Gemma C. Ryde

Objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity in office employees: relationships with presenteeism.

Objective: Employee presenteeism is the extent to which health conditions adversely affect at-work productivity. Given the links between health and activity, this study examined associations between objectively measured physical activity, sedentary behavior, and presenteeism. Methods: Participants were 108 office employees (70% women, mean age 40.7 ± 11.2 years). Activity was measured using ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers to determine sedentary (⩽150 counts) and light (151 to 1689 counts) activity; presenteeism with the Work Limitations Questionnaire. Results: Fifty-seven percent of time was spent in sedentary behavior and 38% in light activity. The median Work Limitations Questionnaire Index was 4.38; 6% of participants reported at least moderate impairment. Significant associations were reported for time spent in sedentary behavior before/after work (odds ratio [OR] = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.08 to 6.20) and in light activity, overall (OR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.97) and during workday lunch hours (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.77), and presenteeism. Conclusions: Future studies should seek greater variation in employee levels of activity and presenteeism to confirm these relationships.

Walking on prescription: The utility of a pedometer pack for increasing physical activity in primary care

OBJECTIVE This study used a multi-method approach to examine the effectiveness of a pedometer-based intervention delivered by health professionals for increasing walking. METHODS Pedometer packs were distributed to 374 patients who undertook a 12-week walking programme. Changes in walking were assessed at three months (using self-reported step-counts [n=139] and questionnaire data [n=104]) and at six months (using patient questionnaire data [n=112]). Qualitative data were collected at both time points to identify underlying mechanisms. RESULTS After 12 weeks patients had increased their step-counts by 4532 steps/day (p<.001) and at six months were achieving 2977 more steps/day (equivalent to around 30 min/day) than at baseline. Over half the patients reported achieving this target on at least 5 days/week. Qualitative data indicated that the pedometer pack was perceived to be most effective when patients were ready to change and when ongoing support was made available. CONCLUSION These findings support the use of pedometer-based interventions in primary care and suggest that the pedometer pack could lead to sustainable changes in walking. Further investigation, using a randomised controlled trial design, is warranted. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Provision of social support and accurate identification of patient readiness to change are important considerations in future implementation of the intervention.

Validation of a Novel, Objective Measure of Occupational Sitting

Validation of a Novel, Objective Measure of Occupational Sitting: Gemma C. RYDE, et al. St Lucia Campus, School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Australia—

Desk-Based Occupational Sitting Patterns: Weight-Related Health Outcomes

BACKGROUND Prolonged, uninterrupted sitting time is associated with poor health outcomes. As most sitting time occurs at work, accurate, objective measurement of occupational sitting patterns is required to fully understand its effects on employee health. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine associations of desk-based sitting patterns with waist circumference (WC) and BMI. METHODS Participants were full-time, office-based employees (N=105; mean age 40.9±11.5 years; BMI 26.1±3.9; 65% women). Sitting patterns (total desk-based sitting time and number of times employees got up from their desk) were assessed for 5 days using an objective measure of desk-based sitting: the sitting pad. WC, height, and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. Associations of sitting patterns with WC and BMI were tested using logistic regression models. Data were collected and analyzed in 2011-2012. RESULTS Those with high levels of sitting time at their desk were 2.7 times (95% CI=1.3, 6.3) more likely to have WC ≥94 cm (men) and ≥80 cm (women), and 9.0 times (95% CI=1.9, 41.9) more likely to have BMI ≥30 than those with lower sitting time. There were no associations between the number of times employees got up from sitting at their desk and WC or BMI. CONCLUSIONS High levels of desk-based sitting time were associated with an increased likelihood of negative weight-related health outcomes, whereas frequency of getting up from sitting at the desk was not.

Is the pain of activity log-books worth the gain in precision when distinguishing wear and non-wear time for tri-axial accelerometers?

OBJECTIVE To compare three methods for assessing wear time from accelerometer data: automated, log-books and a combination of the two. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS Forty-five office workers wore an Actigraph GT3X accelerometer and kept a detailed activity log-book for 7 days. The automated method used six algorithms to determine non-wear time (20, 60, or 90 min of consecutive zero counts with and without 2-min interruptions); the log-book method used participant recorded on/off times; the combined method used the 60-min automated filter (with ≤2 min interruptions) plus detailed log-book data. Outcomes were number of participants with valid data, number of valid days, estimates of wear time and time spent in sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous activity. Percentage misclassification, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver-operating curve were compared for each method, with the combined method as the reference. RESULTS Using the combined method, 34 participants met criteria for valid wear time (≥10 h/day, ≥4 days). Mean wear times ranged from 891 to 925 min/day and mean sedentary time s from 438 to 490 min/day. Percentage misclassification was higher and area under the receiver-operating curve was lower for the log-book method than for the automated methods. Percentage misclassification was lowest and area under the receiver-operating curve highest for the 20-min filter without interruptions, but this method had fewer valid days and participants than the 60 and 90-min filters without interruptions. CONCLUSIONS Automated filters are as accurate as a combination of automated filters and log-books for filtering wear time from accelerometer data. Automated filters based on 90-min of consecutive zero counts without interruptions are recommended for future studies.

Walk@Work: an automated intervention to increase walking in university employees not achieving 10,000 daily steps

OBJECTIVE This study assessed the workday step counts of lower active (<10,000 daily steps) university employees using an automated, web-based walking intervention (Walk@Work). METHODS Academic and administrative staff (n=390; 45.6±10.8years; BMI 27.2±5.5kg/m(2); 290 women) at five campuses (Australia [x2], Canada, Northern Ireland and the United States), were given a pedometer, access to the website program (2010-11) and tasked with increasing workday walking by 1000 daily steps above baseline, every two weeks, over a six week period. Step count changes at four weeks post intervention were evaluated relative to campus and baseline walking. RESULTS Across the sample, step counts significantly increased from baseline to post-intervention (1477 daily steps; p=0.001). Variations in increases were evident between campuses (largest difference of 870 daily steps; p=0.04) and for baseline activity status. Those least active at baseline (<5000 daily steps; n=125) increased step counts the most (1837 daily steps; p=0.001), whereas those most active (7500-9999 daily steps; n=79) increased the least (929 daily steps; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Walk@Work increased workday walking by 25% in this sample overall. Increases occurred through an automated program, at campuses in different countries, and were most evident for those most in need of intervention.

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

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 3 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. 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.

Recruitment Rates in Workplace Physical Activity Interventions: Characteristics for Success:

Objective. To conduct a systematic review to assess recruitment rates in workplace physical activity (PA) intervention studies and describe characteristics of studies with high recruitment rates. Data Source. Electronic and manual searches were conducted. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria. Workplace PA intervention studies that reported the number of employees invited to participate and the number who responded were included. Data Extraction. Studies with recruitment rates of ≥ 70% were categorized as high with the remaining studies (< 70%) used as comparison. Key study characteristics were assessed. Data Synthesis. An approach called positive deviance was used to identify the extent to which study characteristics were unique to high recruitment rate. Results. Seventy-six percent of studies failed to report recruitment rates (n= 30 included for review). Studies with high recruitment rates (n = 8) tended to have longer study duration (mean 1.6 years) and target smaller cohorts of employees (mean n = 199) than comparison studies (3.9 months; n = 1241). For recruitment strategies and intervention components of high studies, involvement of employees was driven by the organization, with PA interventions provided as part of the working day in paid time. Conclusion. These findings suggest a potential to improve recruitment through targeting small cohorts of employees, incorporating PA as a long-term strategy, facilitating organizationally driven employee involvement, and providing PA interventions during paid time.

The Daily Mile: What factors are associated with its implementation success?

Background Despite the known benefits of a physically active lifestyle, there are few examples of interventions that have been successfully implemented at a population level over a long period of time. One such example is The Daily Mile, a school based physical activity initiative, where a teacher takes their class out daily during class time for a short bout of ambulatory activity. At one school, this activity appears has been sustained over a long period (6 years), has the whole school participating and is now incorporated into its daily routine. The aim of this paper was to understand how The Daily Mile was implemented in primary schools and to assess factors associated with its successful implementation. Methods Semi-structured interviews with school staff who had a significant role in implementing The Daily Mile were conducted at four primary schools in central Scotland. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive analysis and interpretation of data undertaken. Details regarding the school grounds and facilities were also noted during the interviews. Results Having simple core intervention components, flexible delivery that supports teacher autonomy and being adaptable to suit the specific primary school context appear to be key aspects of The Daily Mile that are related to its implementation success. Other factors relating to how The Daily Mile was developed, trialled and rolled out might also have contributed towards its successful implementation. Conclusion The Daily Mile appears to have several factors which may relate to its implementation success. These are important considerations for others looking to implement The Daily Mile effectively in their primary school or in other contexts.

Sedentary Behaviour and the Social and Physical Environment

Sedentary behaviour is influenced by factors across all levels of the social ecological model. This chapter focuses on the physical and social environmental level of analysis. The chapter summarizes environmental correlates of sedentary behaviour, addresses potential theoretical approaches, and examines the evidence for the effectiveness of environmental interventions on sedentary behaviour. Where relevant, the discussion is separated into young people, adults, and older adults. Some features of the home and workplace have been shown to be associated with sedentary behaviour; however, less is known about influences on sedentary behaviour in other contexts. Theoretical perspectives that may be particularly relevant when considering environmental influences are discussed, including social cognitive theory, habit theory, social network analysis, and systems theory. The theories employed need to try and capture the complex interrelationships between individuals, the groups they operate within and the physical and social context. There is evidence to suggest that incorporating environmental modifications into sedentary behaviour interventions is likely to be effective for both young people and adults.