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Reducing occupational sedentary time: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of evidence on activity‐permissive workstations
Author(s) -
Neuhaus M.,
Eakin E. G.,
Straker L.,
Owen N.,
Dunstan D. W.,
Reid N.,
Healy G. N.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
obesity reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.845
H-Index - 162
eISSN - 1467-789X
pISSN - 1467-7881
DOI - 10.1111/obr.12201
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , meta analysis , sedentary behavior , randomized controlled trial , permissive , sedentary lifestyle , physical therapy , gerontology , physical activity , virology
Summary Excessive sedentary time is detrimentally linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. Studies have been investigating the use of activity‐permissive workstations to reduce sedentary time in office workers, a highly sedentary target group. This review systematically summarizes the evidence for activity‐permissive workstations on sedentary time, health‐risk biomarkers, work performance and feasibility indicators in office workplaces. In J uly 2013, a literature search identified 38 relevant peer‐reviewed publications. Key findings were independently extracted by two researchers. The average intervention effect on sedentary time was calculated via meta‐analysis. In total, 984 participants across 19 field‐based trials and 19 laboratory investigations were included, with sample sizes ranging from n = 2 to 66 per study. Sedentary time, health‐risk biomarkers and work performance indicators were reported in 13, 23 and 23 studies, respectively. The pooled effect size from the meta‐analysis was −77 min of sedentary time/8‐h workday (95% confidence interval = −120, −35 min). Non‐significant changes were reported for most health‐ and work‐related outcomes. Studies with acceptability measures reported predominantly positive feedback. Findings suggest that activity‐permissive workstations can be effective to reduce occupational sedentary time, without compromising work performance. Larger and longer‐term randomized‐controlled trials are needed to understand the sustainability of the sedentary time reductions and their longer‐term impacts on health‐ and work‐related outcomes.