/KL.7. Making office workers healthier: A public health intervention making office workers use their height-adjustable office desks more, conducted for LINAK® 2017 1.0 Background Sedentary behavior and health There is a broad agreement among clinicians and public health experts that sedentary behavior has negative effects on our health (van Uffelen, et al., 2010; Schmid & Leitzmann, 2014). Prospective studies have found that sedentary behavior during work hours increases the risks of both diabetes mellitus and overall mortality (van Uffelen, et al., 2010). In addition, a large metaanalysis by Schmid and Leitzmann (2014) showed an increased risk of certain types of cancer among individuals with a sedentary lifestyle (Schmid & Leitzmann, 2014). Further, several studies (van Uffelen, et al., 2010) have found associations between sedentary behavior and cardiovascular disease and obesity. In short, the human body evolved to move, and we are now discovering the potential consequences of having a daily behavior that goes against our biology. Sedentary behaviour “The absence of physical activity e.g. prolonged hours of sitting.” (van Uffelen, et al., 2010) Why is this a problem? Because the majority in developed countries are sitting down most of the day, while working, when watching television, when eating, when transporting ourselves, etc. We spend up to 12 hours a day sitting, many of these hours during work (van der Ploeg, Chey, Korda, Banks, & Bauman, 2012). A study by Thorp et al. conducted in Australia among 193 employees in offices, call centers and customer service showed that office workers were sedentary 77 % of working hours (Thorp, et al., 2012). These findings are consistent with findings in other European countries (Ryan, Dali, Granat, & Grant, 2011; Toomingas, Forsman, Mathiassen, Heiden, & Nilsson, 2012). In addition, a study by McCrady et al. has shown a major difference in the average time sitting when at work and during leisure with an average of sitting down 100 minutes more during workdays (McCrady & Levine, 2009). “We spend up to 12 hours a day sitting, many of these hours during work.” (van der Ploeg, Chey, Korda, Banks, & Bauman, 2012). So, we are spending too much time sitting down during work, which is bad for us, but many of us engage in physical activity outside working hours. Can we avoid the adverse effects of sitting down during work by being active during leisure? As devastating as it may sound, studies suggest that high intensity physical activity doesn’t make up for the adverse health effects of sedentary behavior during work hours. A review by Hamilton et al. found that sedentary behavior can lead to adverse cardiovascular and metabolic effects that are independent of whether people meet the general guidelines for physical activity (Hamilton, Healy, Dunstan, Zderic, & Owen, 2008). This claim is supported by another study where the effects of sitting time on risk of cancer persists after controlling for physical activity during leisure time (Schmid & Leitzmann, 2014). 1.0 Background 2.0 Behavioral Design 3.0 Method 4.0 Results 5.0 Discussion 6.0 Conclusion 4
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