Sitting: The new smoking ("On average, employees got up from their desks three times/hour...")

J Phys Act Health. 2013 Oct 31. [Epub ahead of print]

Are We Chained to Our Desks? Describing Desk-Based Sitting Using a Novel Measure of Occupational Sitting.

Ryde GC, Brown HE, Gilson ND, Brown W.

Source

School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prolonged occupational sitting is related to poor health outcomes. Detailed data on sitting time at desks are required to understand and effectively influence occupational sitting habits.

METHODS:

Full time office employees were recruited (n=105; mean age 40.9±11.5 years; BMI 26.1±3.9, 65% women). Sitting at the desk and in other work contexts was measured using a sitting pad and ActivPAL for an entire working week. Employees used a diary to record work hours. Time spent at work, sitting at work and at the desk; number of sit to stand transitions at the desk; and number of bouts of continuous sitting at the desk <20 and >60 minutes, were calculated.

RESULTS:

Average time spent at work was 8.7±0.8 hours/day with 67% spent sitting at the desk (5.8±1.2 hours/day), and 4% in other workplace settings. On average, employees got up from their desks three times/hour (29±13/day). Sitting for more than 60 consecutive minutes occurred infrequently (0.69±0.62 times/day), with most sit to stands (80%; 23±14) occurring before 20 minutes of continual sitting occured.

CONCLUSION:

The findings provide highly detailed insights into desk-based sitting habits, highlighting large proportions of time spent sitting at desks, but with frequent interruptions.