Targeting Reductions in Sitting Time to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health

Abstract

New evidence suggests that reductions in sedentary behavior may increase physical activity and improve health. These findings point to new behavioral targets for intervention and new ways to think about intervening to increase overall physical activity in the population. This report provides a knowledge update reflecting the rapid accumulation of new evidence related to sedentary behavior and health among adults. Recent observational studies suggest that leveraging the time-inverse relationship between sedentary and active behaviors by replacing sitting with standing, light or moderate-intensity activity can have important health benefits, particularly among less active adults. Clinical studies are providing evidence of the probable physiologic mechanisms underlying these associations, as well as insights into the cardiometabolic impact of breaking up and reducing sedentary behavior. In contrast to the well-established behavioral theories that guide the development and dissemination of evidence-based interventions to increase moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), much less is known about how to reduce sedentary time in order to increase daily activities. It has become clear that the environmental, social and individual level-determinants for sedentary time are distinct from those linked to the adoption and maintenance of MVPA. As a result, novel intervention strategies that focus on sitting and lower intensity activities by leveraging the surrounding environment (e.g., workplace, school, home) as well as individual-level cues and habits of sedentary behavior are being tested to increase the potency of interventions designed to increase overall physical activity. Herein we summarize the solutions-oriented research across the behavioral research framework, with a focus on highlighting areas of synergy across disciplines and identifying gaps for future research.

Implementing a Physical Activity Promoting Program in a Flex-Office: A Process Evaluation with a Mixed Methods Design

“…Multicomponent interventions among office workers have shown the greatest reductions in workplace sitting, followed by environmental and educational strategies [9]. Recent cluster randomized trials in office settings [7,10,11], including sit-stand workstations in combination with multilevel strategies, have shown reductions in sedentary time, that are likely to lead to improvements in 2 of 20 outcomes like weight and waist circumference, but the knowledge of the long-term efficacy and the cost-effectiveness of these interventions is still limited [12]. As there are variations in workplace context, i.e., in terms of workplace sector, organizational culture and structure, an intervention that has shown to be effective in one context, might not work likewise in another setting.…”

Workshop Gesundheitsgefährdung durch langes Sitzen am Arbeitsplatz – Teil I wissenschaftliche Perspektiven

“…Der Interventionserfolg ist höher, je spezifischer die Maßnahmen darauf angelegt sind, lange Sitzzeiten regelmäßig zu unterbrechen oder Arbeit im Stehen bzw. in Bewegung durchzuführen [38][39][40]. Der Schlüssel zum Erfolg liegt somit in einer Verschiebung der sedentär verbrachten Zeit zu den sogenannten alltäglichen Basisaktivitäten [40].…”

“…in Bewegung durchzuführen [38][39][40]. Der Schlüssel zum Erfolg liegt somit in einer Verschiebung der sedentär verbrachten Zeit zu den sogenannten alltäglichen Basisaktivitäten [40]. Es lässt sich somit festhalten, dass sedentäres Verhalten reduzieren und Bewegung zu fördern, zwei sich ergänzende Zugänge mit eigener Fokussierung und Logik sind.…”

“…Es wird somit eine Doppelstrategie benötigt. Die beiden Zugänge dürfen nicht gegeneinander ausgespielt werden [40,41]. Zusammenfassend lässt sich das in nachfolgender Abbildung über die Gangschaltung des Aktivitätsverhaltens veranschaulichen.…”

“…Theoretisch ist es lohnenswert, gewohnheitsbildende Elemente und damit verbunden die Bedeutung von Mikroumwelten in die Erklärung von sedentären Verhalten zu fokussieren. Interventionen werden nur dann replizierbar und nachhaltig sein, wenn sie stärker als bisher an den theoretischen Vorüberlegungen ansetzen [40][41][42].…”