The Effect of Sit-Stand Workstations on Physical Activity in Sedentary Office Workers

Non-exercise activity was meausred by triple axis accelerometers during all waking hours in the control period (1 month) and in the intervention period (1 month). The two periods were then compared for each subject.

Sitting time was also measured subjectively using a validated questionnaire: occupational sitting and physical activity questinnarie (OSPAQ)

Hypothesis: Amount of time spent standing, walking, and other components of non-exercise activity will be higher during the standing intervention period relative to the control period (usual sitting).

Sitting/standing,Fatigue, appetite, energy levels etc. were measured via quick ecological momentary assessment surveys. These are all part of one short questionnaire that participants filled out twice a day during the study.

Hypothesis: Self-reported energy levels will be higher and fatigue will be lower for the standing intervention period compared to control.

Self-administered web-based 24 hour dietary recall Hypothesis: Energy intake will not be higher and eating behaviors will not be different (e.g., meal/snack size, frequency, and composition) between the standing intervention periods and control.

On a random day a week, subjects filled out what they did for every 15 minute increment for the last 24 hours.

The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire was used to assess productivity in the previous week.

The Perceived Stress Scale was used to measure stress level every two weeks.

Focus group sessions were conducted to ascertain the experience of switching to sit-stand workstations for people who participated in the study and for people who did not participate in the study (what it was like to have co-workers use sit-stand desks).

This is a qualitative measure without hard outcomes. Questions were asked about overall experience with sit-stand desks (SSDs), benefits and drawbacks of use, whether they see themselves using the SSDs regularly in the long run, things they liked, things they did not like, health effects of standing, and impact of standing on interaction with coworkers.

Individual interviews were conducted to ascertain the experience of switching to a sit-stand workstation.

This is a qualitative measure without hard outcomes. Questions were asked about overall experience with sit-stand desks (SSDs), benefits and drawbacks of use, whether they see themselves using the SSDs regularly in the long run, things they liked, things they did not like, health effects of standing, and impact of standing on interaction with coworkers.

Body composition (DXA scan), height, weight, waist-to-hip-ratio, and cardiovascular fitness (treadmill walk and step test) were performed to measure physical changes.

Women without a history of histerectomy underwent urine pregnancy test before going for the DXA scan. baseline fitness and health status of all participants were assessed by a study physician to ensure that subjects were able to participate in the fitness tests.

Non-exercise activity will be measured again by by triple axis accelerometers like in the main study.

Sitting time will also be measured subjectively using a validated questionnaire: occupational sitting and physical activity questinnarie (OSPAQ).

Diet, feelings survey (ecological momentary assesment), physical activity, stress, productivity, and other related things may also be measured during that week. Individual interviews and focus group sessions will also be conducted at this time point.