Association between breaks in sitting time and adiposity in Australian toddlers: Results from the GET-UP! study

Self-tracking devices have been observed to accelerate time, be used sporadically and busyness being a barrier to use at work. Drawing on notion of multiple temporalities, this article expands the focus on temporalities of users’ engagement with technologies to analysing them within broader biographical, institutional and political times. The argument is grounded in interviews with UK public sector office workers self-tracking sitting time that featured the following three themes: (1) the participants related their sitting to deteriorated work conditions after government austerity politics and redundancies, (2) the pressurised rhythm of work made it difficult to reduce sitting time and fostered a sense of discontent and powerlessness and (3) the workers did not self-track in their free time, defined as free from monitoring. We suggest that the analytical lens of multiple temporalities expands understanding of user experiences as well as illuminates lived contemporary political and institutional times, characterised by both discontent and powerlessness.

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Association of Physical Activity and Sitting Time with Overweight/Obesity in Chinese Occupational Populations

Obesity Facts ◽

10.1159/000512834 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Fan Yuan ◽

Weiyan Gong ◽

Caicui Ding ◽

Hui Li ◽

Ganyu Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Lower Risk ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Active Transportation ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Work Time ◽

Transportation Mode ◽

Activity Intensity ◽

Female Employees

Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore association of physical activity and sitting time with overweight/obesity in Chinese occupational populations for the development of intervention and prevention strategies for obesity. Methods: A total of 23,112 participants were selected from the 2010–2012 China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNNHS). A logistics regression model was used to examine the associations of physical activity and sitting time with overweight/obesity by gender after adjusting for age, educational level, marital status, and family economic level. Results: The prevalence of overweight/obesity based on the WHO definition and the WGOC definition was 30.8% and 41.3%, respectively. Male employees with moderate and heavy occupation activity intensity had a lower risk for overweight/obesity than those with light occupation activity intensity (moderate: OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.98; heavy: OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65–0.86), and the risk of overweight/obesity of male employees with long work-time spent sitting was higher than those with short work-time spent sitting (2–4.9 h/day: OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.14–1.40; ≥5 h/day: OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.15–1.44). The risk of overweight/obesity of male employees with active transportation mode was lower than those with inactive transportation mode (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.99), while the risk of overweight/obesity of female employees with active transportation mode was higher (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.04–1.25). Female employees with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) for ≥150 min/week had lower risk of overweight/obesity than those with LTPA for <150 min/week (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56–0.84). There was no significant association of leisure-time sitting and housework time with overweight/obesity in Chinese occupational populations. Conclusion: Occupation activity intensity, LTPA, transportation mode, and work sitting time were associated with overweight/obesity. Reducing work sitting time, moderate and heavy occupation activity intensity, and an active transportation mode could help male employees decrease the risk of overweight/obesity. Increasing leisure-time physical activity could reduce the risk of overweight/obesity in women. Our findings provided insight into the association of physical activity and sitting time with overweight/obesity. It will be necessary to carry out workplace-based interventions, have an active transportation mode, and increase leisure-time physical activity to decrease the risks of overweight/obesity.

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The impact of sitting time and physical activity on mental health during COVID-19 lockdown

Sport Sciences for Health ◽

10.1007/s11332-021-00791-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew Pears ◽

Susanna Kola-Palmer ◽

Liane Beretta De Azevedo

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Online Survey ◽

Depression Score ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Multiple Stepwise Regression Analysis ◽

Previous Diagnosis ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objective The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity (PA) and sitting time on adults’ mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety and wellbeing) and the influence of mediators and confounders. Methods An online survey was disseminated in the UK between May and June 2020. A total of 284 participants (33.5 ± 12.4 years) self-reported their PA, sitting time and mental health through validated questionnaires. Results Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that being of younger age, female, on a lower income, with one or more comorbid health conditions, with a previous diagnosis of mood disorder and increased sitting time independently correlated with higher depression scores (F (13,219) = 12.31, p < 0.001), and explained 42% of the variance. Similar results were found for wellbeing where socio-demographic, health outcomes and sitting time influenced the subjective wellbeing (F (14,218) = 5.77, p < 0.001, 27% variance), although only socio-demographic and health outcomes contributed to the variation in anxiety score (F (13,219) = 7.84, p < 0.001, 32% variance). PA did not explain variation when sitting time was taken into account in any of the models. Combined analysis revealed that participants with lower sedentary time (< 8 h) and with both low or moderate and high PA presented a significantly lower depression score [low PA: (B = −2.7, 95% CI −4.88, −0.52); moderate and high PA (B = −2.7, −4.88, −0.52)]. Conclusion Sitting time was strongly associated with adverse mental health during COVID-19 lockdown and should be considered in future public health recommendations.

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Identifying Fall Risk Predictors by Monitoring Daily Activities at Home Using a Depth Sensor Coupled to Machine Learning Algorithms

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21061957 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 1957

Author(s):

Amandine Dubois ◽

Titus Bihl ◽

Jean-Pierre Bresciani

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Fall Prevention ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Learning Algorithms ◽

Step Length ◽

Machine Learning Algorithms ◽

Daily Activities ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Behavioral Parameters ◽

At Home

Because of population ageing, fall prevention represents a human, economic, and social issue. Currently, fall-risk is assessed infrequently, and usually only after the first fall occurrence. Home monitoring could improve fall prevention. Our aim was to monitor daily activities at home in order to identify the behavioral parameters that best discriminate high fall risk from low fall risk individuals. Microsoft Kinect sensors were placed in the room of 30 patients temporarily residing in a rehabilitation center. The sensors captured the patients’ movements while they were going about their daily activities. Different behavioral parameters, such as speed to sit down, gait speed or total sitting time were extracted and analyzed combining statistical and machine learning algorithms. Our algorithms classified the patients according to their estimated fall risk. The automatic fall risk assessment performed by the algorithms was then benchmarked against fall risk assessments performed by clinicians using the Tinetti test and the Timed Up and Go test. Step length, sit-stand transition and total sitting time were the most discriminant parameters to classify patients according to their fall risk. Coupling step length to the speed required to stand up or the total sitting time gave rise to an error-less classification of the patients, i.e., to the same classification as that of the clinicians. A monitoring system extracting step length and sit-stand transitions at home could complement the clinicians’ assessment toolkit and improve fall prevention.

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SMART STEP – SMARTphone-driven exercise and pedometer-based STEP intervention to promote physical activity among desk-based employees: Study protocol for a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-213544 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Baskaran Chandrasekaran ◽

Chythra R Rao ◽

Fiddy Davis ◽

Ashokan Arumugam

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Cardiometabolic Risk ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Subcutaneous Fat ◽

Work Productivity ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Sickness Absenteeism

BACKGROUND: Prolonged sitting in desk-based office workers is found to be associated with increased cardiometabolic risk and poor cognitive performance. Technology-based physical activity (PA) interventions using smartphone applications (SmPh app) to promote PA levels might be effective in reducing cardiometabolic risk among sedentary population but the evidence remains inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to investigate the effects of a technology-based PA intervention compared to PA education with a worksite manual or no intervention on PA levels, cardiometabolic risk, cognitive performance, and work productivity among desk-based employees. METHOD: A three-arm clustered randomized trial will be conducted. The study will be conducted among various administrative offices of a multifaceted university in India. Desk-based employees aged between 30 and 50 years (n = 159; 53 in each arm) will be recruited. Employees from various constituent institutions (clusters) of the university will be randomized into one of the three following groups - SMART: SmPh app-driven break reminders (visual exercise prompts) plus pedometer-based step intervention, TRADE: worksite PA education with a manual plus American College of Sports Medicine guided PA prescription, or CONTROL: usual work group. At baseline and after the 1st, 3rd and 6th month of the trial period, accelerometer-measured sitting time and PA levels, cardiometabolic risk (fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, insulin, blood pressure, heart rate variability, functional capacity, and subcutaneous fat), cognitive performance (executive function), sickness absenteeism and work limitations will be assessed by a blinded assessor. Therapist delivering interventions will not be blinded. CONCLUSION: This trial will determine whether a combined SmPh-app and pedometer-based intervention is more effective than education or no intervention in altering PA levels, cardiometabolic risk and cognitive performance among desk-based employees in India. This study has the potential to foster institutional recommendations for using SmPh-based technology and pedometers to promote PA at work.

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Adherence to a Lifestyle Exercise and Nutrition Intervention in University Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147510 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7510

Author(s):

Guillermo García Pérez de Sevilla ◽

Olga Barceló Guido ◽

María de la Paz De la Cruz ◽

Ascensión Blanco Fernández ◽

Lidia B. Alejo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Effect Size ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Nutrition Intervention ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Post Intervention ◽

University Employees ◽

Randomized Controlled

Healthy lifestyles should be encouraged in the workplace through the occupational health teams of the companies. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the adherence to a lifestyle intervention carried out in university employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on health-related quality of life (HrQoL). A randomized controlled trial following the CONSORT guidelines was performed, consisting of three supervised interventions lasting for 18 weeks: an educational intervention on healthy habits, a nutritional intervention, and a telematic aerobic and strength exercise intervention. Lifestyle and HrQoL were analyzed six months post-intervention to assess adherence. Twenty-three middle-aged participants completed the study. The intervention group significantly improved their lifestyle according to the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II questionnaire, especially in the categories of Health Responsibility, Physical Activity, and Nutrition, with a large effect size. Sitting time was reduced by 2.5 h per day, with a moderate effect size. Regarding HrQoL, the intervention group showed a clinically significant improvement in the Physical Component Summary. Despite the lockdown and the mobility restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this intervention performed on university employees achieved adherence to a healthier lifestyle and improved their HrQoL, which is of great clinical relevance.

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Simple intermittent resistance activity mitigates the detrimental effect of prolonged unbroken sitting on arterial function in overweight and obese adults

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00544.2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 125 (6) ◽

pp. 1787-1794 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Rachel E. Climie ◽

Michael J. Wheeler ◽

Megan Grace ◽

Elisabeth A. Lambert ◽

Neale Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Shear Rate ◽

Adhesion Molecule ◽

Femoral Artery ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Obese Adults ◽

Arterial Function ◽

Endothelin 1 ◽

Prolonged Sitting

Prolonged sitting contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The underlying mechanisms are unknown but may include changes in arterial function and vasoactive mediators. We examined the effects of prolonged unbroken sitting, relative to regular active interruptions to sitting time, on arterial function in adults at increased CVD risk. In a randomized crossover trial, 19 sedentary overweight/obese adults (mean ± SD age 57 ± 12 yr) completed 2 laboratory-based conditions: 5 h uninterrupted sitting (SIT) and 5 h sitting interrupted every 30 min by 3 min of simple resistance activities (SRA). Femoral artery function [flow-mediated dilation (FMD)], blood flow, and shear rate were measured at 0 h, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 5 h. Brachial FMD was assessed at 0 and 5 h. Plasma was collected hourly for measurement of endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitrates/nitrites, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). There was a significant decline in femoral artery FMD, averaged over 5 h in the SIT condition, relative to SRA ( P < 0.001). Plasma ET-1 total area under the curve over 5 h increased in the SIT condition compared with SRA ( P = 0.006). There was no significant difference between conditions in femoral or brachial shear rate, brachial FMD, nitrates/nitrites, VCAM-1, or ICAM-1 ( P > 0.05 for all). Five hours of prolonged sitting, relative to regular interruptions to sitting time, impaired femoral artery vasodilator function and increased circulating ET-1 in overweight/obese adults. There is the need to build on this evidence beyond acute observations to better understand the potential longer-term vascular-related consequences of prolonged sitting. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to examine the effect of prolonged sitting on arterial function in adults at increased cardiovascular disease risk. We have shown that 5 h of prolonged sitting, relative to regular interruptions to sitting time, impaired femoral artery vasodilator function and increased circulating endothelin-1 in overweight/obese adults. There is now the need to build on this evidence beyond acute observations to better understand the potential longer-term vascular-related consequences of prolonged sitting.

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Health Behaviors of Higher Education Students from 7 Countries: Poorer Sleep Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic Predicts Higher Dietary Risk

Clocks & Sleep ◽

10.3390/clockssleep3010002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 12-30

Author(s):

Chen Du ◽

Megan Chong Hueh Zan ◽

Min Jung Cho ◽

Jenifer I. Fenton ◽

Pao Ying Hsiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

The United States ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Risk Scores ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Education Students ◽

Dietary Risk

Health behaviors of higher education students can be negatively influenced by stressful events. The global COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to characterize and compare health behaviors across multiple countries and to examine how these behaviors are shaped by the pandemic experience. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in universities in China, Ireland, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, the Netherlands and the United States (USA) were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Eligible students filled out an online survey comprised of validated tools for assessing sleep quality and duration, dietary risk, alcohol misuse and physical activity between late April and the end of May 2020. Health behaviors were fairly consistent across countries, and all countries reported poor sleep quality. However, during the survey period, the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the health behaviors of students in European countries and the USA more negatively than Asian countries, which could be attributed to the differences in pandemic time course and caseloads. Students who experienced a decline in sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic had higher dietary risk scores than students who did not experience a change in sleep quality (p = 0.001). Improved sleep quality was associated with less sitting time (p = 0.010). Addressing sleep issues among higher education students is a pressing concern, especially during stressful events. These results support the importance of making education and behavior-based sleep programming available for higher education students in order to benefit students’ overall health.

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Mix of destinations and sedentary behavior among Brazilian adults: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-10123-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Alex Antonio Florindo ◽

Gavin Turrell ◽

Leandro Martin Totaro Garcia ◽

João Paulo dos Anjos Souza Barbosa ◽

Michele Santos Cruz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Built Environment ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Latin American ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Sitting Time ◽

São Paulo ◽

Related Factors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Economies In Transition

Abstract Background Sedentary behavior is influenced by contextual, social, and individual factors, including the built environment. However, associations between the built environment and sitting time have not been extensively investigated in countries with economies in transition such as Brazil. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between sitting-time and access to a mix of destinations for adults from Sao Paulo city, Brazil. Methods This study uses data from the Health Survey of Sao Paulo. Sedentary behavior was assessed by a questionnaire using two questions: total sitting time in minutes on a usual weekday; and on a usual weekend day. The mix of destinations was measured by summing the number of facilities (comprising bus stops, train/subway stations, parks, squares, public recreation centres, bike paths, primary health care units, supermarkets, food stores, bakeries, and coffee-shops) within 500 m of each participant’s residence. Minutes of sitting time in a typical weekday and weekend day were the outcomes and the mix of destinations score in 500 m buffers was the exposure variable. Associations between the mix of destinations and sitting time were examined using multilevel linear regression: these models accounted for clustering within census tracts and households and adjusted for environmental, sociodemographic, and health-related factors. Results After adjustment for covariates, the mix of destinations was inversely associated with minutes of sitting time on a weekday (β=− 8.8, p=0.001) and weekend day (β=− 6.1, p=0.022). People who lived in areas with a greater mix of destinations had shorter average sitting times. Conclusion Greater mix of destinations within 500 m of peoples’ residences was inversely associated with sitting time on a typical weekday and weekend day. In Latin American cities like Sao Paulo built environments more favorable for walking may contribute to reducing sedentary behavior and prevent associated chronic disease.

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