Active buildings: modelling physical activity and movement in office buildings. An observational study protocol

Abstract

IntroductionHealth benefits of regular participation in physical activity are well documented but population levels are low. Office layout, and in particular the number and location of office building destinations (eg, print and meeting rooms), may influence both walking time and characteristics of sitting time. No research to date has focused on the role that the layout of the indoor office environment plays in facilitating or inhibiting step counts and characteristics of sitting time. The primary aim of this study was to investigate associations between office layout and physical activity, as well as sitting time using objective measures.Methods and analysisActive buildings is a unique collaboration between public health, built environment and computer science researchers. The study involves objective monitoring complemented by a larger questionnaire arm. UK office buildings will be selected based on a variety of features, including office floor area and number of occupants. Questionnaires will include items on standard demographics, well-being, physical activity behaviour and putative socioecological correlates of workplace physical activity. Based on survey responses, approximately 30 participants will be recruited from each building into the objective monitoring arm. Participants will wear accelerometers (to monitor physical activity and sitting inside and outside the office) and a novel tracking device will be placed in the office (to record participant location) for five consecutive days. Data will be analysed using regression analyses, as well as novel agent-based modelling techniques.Ethics and disseminationThe results of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations. Ethical approval was obtained through the University College London Research Ethics Committee (Reference number 4400/001).

The Potential Yield of Non-Exercise Physical Activity Energy Expenditure in Public Health

“…Thus, people may be more willing to replace sedentary activities with standing or light activities that can be incorporated into their daily lives, rather than activities of moderate intensity, as there are fewer potential barriers (e.g., motivation to undertake light activity typically requires lower cognitive effort and elicits less palpable physiological responses; money/equipment/ facilities required to participate in some forms of MVPA, such as structured exercise). Potential interventions may involve restructuring the layout of buildings (e.g., shopping malls, offices) to promote movement (e.g., see Smith et al [7]), encouraging active computer gaming over sedentary TV viewing, encouraging standing on public transport over sitting, and incorporating standing desks into the workplace, to list a few. If population activity patterns can be shifted from predominantly sedentary to standing or light activity, consequent interventions targeting MVPA may then be more successful as it reflects a more natural shift along the PA continuum.…”

Effects of a multicomponent physical activity promoting program on sedentary behavior, physical activity and body measures: a longitudinal study in different office types

“…The power calculations were based on data from earlier studies (5,(22)(23)(24). These studies report standard deviation (SD) of 35.3-100.0 minutes, and our calculations were based on a SD of 55 minutes with a power of 0.80.…”

Workplace building design and office‐based workers' activity: a study of a natural experiment

“…The workplace has a direct influence on the health of employees 15 and building design is increasingly recognised as having an impact on the occupants through how the available space encourages or discourages movement 16 . An activity‐supportive physical environment is recognised as one that encourages movement through changes to office layout to promote physical activity: 17,18 standing hot desks and meeting rooms, changing facilities; 19 breakout spaces, sit‐to‐stand workstations; 13,20–24 and attractive, accessible stairs 25 …”