A study analyzes the dynamics of transitions between sitting and standing during the workday. Sitting for prolonged periods has significant impacts on physical and mental health. Pam ten Broeke and colleagues analyzed the dynamics of individuals' postural transitions during the workday to help inform interventions aimed at preventing unhealthy sitting. The authors examined sitting behavior, which is usually measured as total time spent sitting on a daily basis, on a granular level by observing the timing of transitions from sitting to standing and vice versa. The authors observed 156 workers who wore activPAL monitors, which measure body position. Over the course of 7 days, the authors recorded 30,000 postural shifts of the study participants, who primarily performed deskwork, during the workday. Overall, participants tended to switch postures later in the workday, suggesting that behavioral interventions should be directed toward the beginning of the day. Participants were more likely to stand if they had been active in recent hours; however, switching postures was not associated with physical fitness levels. The authors note that the health consequences of sitting affect even individuals with sufficient daily physical exercise. According to the authors, sitting for prolonged periods might come to be perceived as an occupational hazard, similar to exposure to toxins or excessively loud noise.
###
ARTICLE #20-01284: "Temporal dynamics of sitting behavior at work," by Pam ten Broeke et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Pam ten Broeke, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, NETHERLANDS; e-mail: p.tenbroeke@psych.ru.nl
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences