Volunteer

Can increased standing during the work day improve heart health?

Sedentary behaviour, or time spent sitting, has recently been linked to increased mortality, heart disease and diabetes risk, regardless of the amount of time spent doing physical activity during the day. Understanding the effects of sedentary behaviour is a new and emerging field of research and, as yet, little is known about how it affects our cardiovascular health. Research has shown that breaking up sedentary time, even by doing something as simple as standing up, can be beneficial to your health.

For most adults, sitting at their desk at work contributes the greatest amount of sedentary time to the day. Reducing workplace sedentary time may therefore be an easy and economically viable way to improve our cardiovascular health.

This study will aim to determine whether doing more standing during the workday using electric, height-adjustable work stations is beneficial to blood fat and sugar levels in overweight workers compared to sitting all day at work. It will also look at whether standing throughout the day improves work productivity levels and energy expenditure.

The results from this investigation may inform the development and implementation of future workplace innovations, programs, policies and strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour and have a widespread impact on the cardiovascular health of Australians.

What's involved

Participants will be required to:

• Attend eleven (11) visits over a three (3) week period at Baker IDI's Healthy Lifestyle Research Centre.
• Complete two (2), short-term experimental conditions, each separated by a one-week wash out period.
• Undertake each experimental condition for five (5) consecutive workdays (Monday to Friday) in a simulated office setting.
• Complete eight (8) hours of desk-bound sitting (0900-1700) without standing/ambulation (except for toilet breaks) for five (5) consecutive workdays (condition 1) and eight (8) hours of alternating between a seated and standing work posture every 30 minutes using an electric height adjustable desk (0900-1700) for five (5) consecutive workdays (condition 2).
• Provide blood samples at regular intervals (using an intravenous catheter) at the beginning and end of each experimental condition.
• Consume breakfast, lunch and some evening meals specifically prepared by a research kitchen.
• Have energy expenditure while working in a standing and/or seated posture measured on two (2) occasions.
• Have fatigue levels and work productivity measured (via an easy, self-report questionnaire) at the end of each experimental condition.

Who can participate

Eligible participants must be aged between 35 and 55 years, overweight/obese, employed full-time in a typically sedentary (desk-bound) occupation, sit at work for ≥ 6 hours/ day, not regularly exercising (>300 mins/week of moderate-to-vigorous activity), non-smoker, no history of CVD or diabetes, ambulatory and not taking glucose, cholesterol (lipid) or BP lowering medications.

Study Poster

Further Information:

Interested persons should contact Research Nurse Ms Louise Hammond
Tel: (03) 8532-1872
Email: Louise.Hammond@bakeridi.edu.au