Treadmill Workstations: A Worksite Physical Activity Intervention in Overweight and Obese Office Workers

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1034-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh John ◽  
Dixie L. Thompson ◽  
Hollie Raynor ◽  
Kenneth Bielak ◽  
Bob Rider ◽  
...  

Purpose:To determine if a treadmill-workstation (TMWS) increases physical activity (PA) and influences anthropometric, body composition, cardiovascular, and metabolic variables in overweight and obese office-workers.Methods:Twelve (mean age= 46.2 ± 9.2 years) overweight/obese sedentary office-workers (mean BMI= 33.9 ± 5.0 kg·m-2) volunteered to participate in this 9-month study. After baseline measurements of postural allocation, steps per day, anthropometric variables, body composition, cardiovascular, and metabolic variables, TMWS were installed in the participants’ offices for their use. Baseline measurements were repeated after 3 and 9 months. Comparisons of the outcome variables were made using repeated-measures ANOVAs or nonparametric Friedman’s Rank Tests.Results:Between baseline and 9 months, significant increases were seen in the median standing (146−203 min·day-1) and stepping time (52−90 min·day-1) and total steps/day (4351−7080 steps/day; P < .05). Correspondingly, the median time spent sitting/lying decreased (1238−1150 min·day-1; P < .05). Using the TMWS significantly reduced waist (by 5.5 cm) and hip circumference (by 4.8 cm), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) (by 16 mg·dL-1), and total cholesterol (by 15 mg·dL-1) during the study (P < .05).Conclusion:The additional PA energy expenditure from using the TMWS favorably influenced waist and hip circumferences and lipid and metabolic profiles in overweight and obese office-workers.

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 471-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Hamilton ◽  
E Fraser ◽  
T Hannan

Abstract Background Increasing workplace physical activity has important implications for workers’ health and well-being. However, few interventions targeting physical activity in the workplace are grounded in behavioural theory. Aims The aim of this study was to develop and pilot a 6-week habit-based intervention designed to promote the development of workplace physical activity habits and increase average weekly step counts. Changes in the strength of workplace physical activity habit and weekly step counts were assessed at 1 and 6 weeks following the intervention. Methods The study was a prospective three-wave within-subjects single-arm intervention study that ran for 12 weeks (baseline, 7 weeks, 12 weeks). During the 6-week intervention, participants received information regarding 10 top tips (10TT) to increase and promote habit formation and wore a pedometer during work hours. Differences in workplace physical activity habit and weekly step counts were compared across baseline (T1), 1 (T2) and 6 weeks (T3) post-intervention using repeated measures analyses of variance. Results Data from 20 sedentary office workers at a large Australian University were included. The average strength of workplace physical activity habits significantly increased from baseline (M = 3.90) to 1 week post-intervention (M = 4.45), and these effects were maintained 6 weeks later (M = 4.72). No significant increase in step counts were observed across any of the time points (all P &gt; 0.05). Conclusions The results of this pilot study reveal that workplace physical activity habits can be strengthened via a habit-based intervention. Further research is needed to replicate these findings in larger cohorts of office workers.


2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan-Ping LI ◽  
Xiao-Qi HU ◽  
Evert G. SCHOUTEN ◽  
Ai-Ling LIU ◽  
Song-Ming DU ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1326-1326
Author(s):  
Barbara Lohse ◽  
Leslie Cunningham-Sabo

Abstract Objectives Examine change in adult eating competence (EC) over a 12 month period following participation in a controlled 7-month nutrition education intervention with EC constructs. Methods Parents of 4th grade youth in a cluster randomized impact assessment of a 7 month school-based culinary and physical activity intervention were assigned to 1 of 4 incrementally complex treatments that included components congruent with EC tenets. An online survey included validated measures of EC (ecSI 2.0TM), physical activity, stress, diet quality, healthful modeling, self-efficacy (SE) to offer fruits and vegetables to youth, and self-reported height/weight. EC was defined as ecSI 2.0TM ≥32. Measures were completed at baseline (BL), post-intervention (FU) and 5 months later (FU2). SPSS 24.0 analyses included repeated measures general linear modeling, means testing, chi square, Pearson correlation. Results Mean age of the mostly female (86%) sample (n = 418) was 39.1 ± 6.0 y; at FU2 126 were intervention and 96 control parents. BL analyses supported EC tenets with greater ecSI 2.0TM scores associated with less stress, lower BMI, less overweight/obesity, greater physical activity, greater SE and modeling behaviors (all P &lt; 0.01). These relationships persisted at FU (n = 220) and FU2 (n = 221) for BMI, SE, modeling, and stress measures (all P &lt; 0.01) and physical activity (P = 0.001 FU and 0.09 FU2). EC was denoted for 53% and 57% at BL and FU2 respectively. BL to FU2 ecSI 2.0TM change was not significant when controlling for changes in stress or physical activity. However, compared to those with increased FU2 BMI, ecSI 2.0TM tended (P = 0.06) to increase when BMI was decreased or unchanged, even when controlling for BL BMI. BL to FU2 ecSI 2.0 change was inversely related to BMI change (P = 0.01). ecSI 2.0TM tended to decrease for control, but increase for intervention parents (P = 0.07; –0.34 vs. 1.05), but not when controlling for BMI change. Conclusions An intervention with attention to EC congruent tenets showed modest effect on ecSI 2.0TM suggesting that successful programs require attributes that directly align with EC, which may be uniquely different from traditional nutrition education. Accurate EC intervention assessment required consideration of BMI change. Funding Sources USDA, NIFA.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1210
Author(s):  
Justyna Wyszyńska ◽  
Piotr Matłosz ◽  
Agnieszka Szybisty ◽  
Paweł Lenik ◽  
Katarzyna Dereń ◽  
...  

Detailed associations between physical activity (PA) and body composition in preschoolers remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess body composition among preschool children differentiated according to their levels of PA and to assess whether meeting the current PA recommendations is associated with a lower risk of obesity, determined by body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP). Free-living PA was measured using accelerometers for 7 days in children aged 5 to 6 years. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to estimate body composition. Significant differences in content of BFP, fat-free mass (FFM), and total body water (TBW) were found between boys meeting and not meeting moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) recommendations. Meeting the MVPA recommendation was associated with a twofold lower risk of obesity determined by BFP in boys but not in girls. In contrast, the total number of recommended steps per day was not related to adiposity in boys or girls. No statistically significant differences were observed in body composition indices and quintiles of MVPA. Boys in the 3rd–5th quintiles of steps per day presented significantly lower BFP and higher muscle mass and TBW than their peers in quintile 1. However, different associations were observed between body composition indices and quintiles of PA.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl A. Howe ◽  
Ryan A. Harris ◽  
Bernard Gutin

Objective. To determine if a 10-month after-school physical activity (PA) intervention could prevent deleterious changes in body composition and cardiovascular (CV) fitness in young black boys.Methods. Following baseline measures, 106 boys (8–12 yrs) were randomized to either a control group or an intervention group, further divided into attenders (ATT) and nonattenders (NATT), participating in ≥60% or <60% of the intervention, respectively. The daily intervention consisted of skills development (25 min), vigorous PA (VPA, 35 min), and strengthening/stretching (20 min) components. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.Results. Following the intervention, the ATT exhibited an increase in moderate-to-vigorous PA and a significant reduction in BMI, fat mass, and %BF compared to the control group. A significant association among the intervention energy expenditure and changes in body composition and CV fitness was observed only in the ATT group.Conclusion. An after-school PA program of sufficient length and intensity can promote healthy changes in body composition and fitness levels in black boys who attend at least 3 days/week.


Author(s):  
Damjan Jaksic ◽  
Sandra Mandic ◽  
Nebojsa Maksimovic ◽  
Zoran Milosevic ◽  
Roberto Roklicer ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Regular physical activity (PA) plays an important role during early childhood physical and psychological development. This study investigates the effects of a 9-month PA intervention on physiological characteristics and motor and cognitive skills in preschool children. (2) Methods: Preschool children (n = 132; age 4 to 7 years) attending regular preschool programs were nonrandomly assigned to PA intervention (n = 66; 60 min sessions twice per week) or a control group (n = 66; no additional organized PA program) for 9 months. Exercise training for the intervention group included various sports games, outdoor activities, martial arts, yoga, and dance. Anthropometry, motor skills (7 tests), and cognitive skills (Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices and Cognitive Assessment System) were assessed before and after an intervention period in both groups. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. (3) Results: Body weight significantly increased in both groups over time. Compared to the changes observed in the control group, the intervention group significantly increased in chest circumference (p = 0.022). In contrast, the control group demonstrated an increase in waist circumference (p = 0.001), while these measures in the intervention group remained stable. Participants in the intervention group improved running speed (p = 0.016) and standing broad jump (p = 0.000). The flexibility level was maintained in the intervention group, while a significant decrease was observed in the control group (p = 0.010). Children from the intervention group demonstrated progress in the bent-arm hang test (p = 0.001), unlike the control group subjects. Varied improvements in cognitive skills were observed for different variables in both intervention and control groups, with no robust evidence for PA-intervention-related improvements. (4) Conclusions: Preschool children’s participation in a preschool PA intervention improves their motor skills.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 712-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan Leng Goh ◽  
James Hannon ◽  
Collin Webster ◽  
Leslie Podlog ◽  
Maria Newton

Background:Prolonged sitting at desks during the school day without a break may result in off-task behavior in students. This study was designed to examine the effects of a classroom physical activity intervention, using TAKE 10!, on elementary school students’ on-task behavior. Nine classes (3rd to 5th grades) from 1 elementary school participated in the program (4-week baseline and 8-week intervention).Methods:The students’ on-task behavior was measured using systematic direct observation. Observations occurred once a week during weeks 1 to 4 (baseline) and weeks 8 to 12 (intervention). A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare on-task behavior between observation periods.Results:There was a significant decrease (P = .001) in mean percentage on-task behavior from preno TAKE 10! (91.2 ± 3.4) to postno TAKE 10! (83.5 ± 4.0) during the baseline period, whereas there was a significant increase (P = .001) in mean percentage on-task behavior from pre-TAKE 10! (82.3 ± 4.5) to post-TAKE 10! (89.5 ± 2.7) during the intervention period.Conclusions:Furthermore, students who received more daily TAKE 10! were found to be more on-task than students who received less TAKE 10!. The TAKE 10! program is effective in improving students’ on-task behavior in the classroom.


2010 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh John ◽  
Dixie L. Thompson ◽  
Hollie Raynor ◽  
Kenneth M. Bielak ◽  
David R. Bassett

Author(s):  
Oluwatoyi O. Toriola ◽  
Makama A. Monyeki ◽  
Abel L. Toriola

Aim: To evaluate a two-year longitudinal development of health-related fitness, anthropometry and body composition status amongst adolescents in Tlokwe Municipality, Potchefstroom, South Africa.Setting: A total of 283 high-school learners (111 boys and 172 girls) of ages 14 and 15 years who were part of the ongoing Physical Activity and Health Longitudinal Study (PAHLS) participated in the study. For the purpose of the present study, data collected for 2011 and 2012 for anthropometric, body composition and health-related physical fitness were used.Results: Body mass index (BMI) classification of boys and girls for 2011 and 2012 showed that 24.3% of them were underweight compared with 21% in 2012. In 2011, 50% of boys and girls had normal bodyweight compared with 52% in 2012, whilst 25.5% of the total group of participants were overweight compared with 27% in 2012. Both boys and girls showed significant increases of 5.9% in body fat (BF) and 3.2 kg in body weight over two years’ measurements, respectively. Regarding health-related fitness (i.e BAH), boys showed an increase of 14.8 seconds whilst girls gained 9.6 seconds. Significant decreases were found for sit-ups in both boys and girls. A significant VO2max increase of 2.9 mL/kg/min. was found in boys over the time period. A non-significant decrease of -0.5 mL/kg/min. was observed in girls. Regression coefficients showed that changes in BMI were inversely associated with those in health-related physical fitness. The changes in percentage BF were negatively associated with standing broad jump (SBJ), bent arm hang (BAH) and VO2 max in both boys and girls. A low significant positive association was found between changes in waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and SBJ in both genders, whilst inverse low associations were found between WHtR and BAH in girls and for VO2max in both genders.Conclusion: Changes in BMI, %BF and WHtR were negatively associated with strength and running performances in the participating children. The relative increase in overweight, especially in girls, negatively affected their endurance running and static strength performances. The health implications of the observed findings are discussed and recommendations offered for physical activity intervention in school physical education (PE) programmes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Schlaff ◽  
Meghan Baruth ◽  
Valerie J. Adams ◽  
Tatum M. Goldufsky ◽  
Nathan A. Peters ◽  
...  

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of a 12-week, behavioral nutrition intervention on dietary behaviors. Method: Inactive older adults ( N = 50) were randomized to a 12-week, behavioral nutrition or physical activity intervention, delivered in a group-based format. Questionnaires assessed fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, and fat- and fiber-related behaviors at baseline and postintervention. Height and weight were measured. Repeated-measures ANOVAs examined changes in dietary behaviors over time between groups, controlling for age, gender, and education. Results: Participants averaged 64.1 ± 8.4 years of age and had a body mass index (BMI) of 33.3 ± 7.5 kg/m2. Group × Time interactions were significant for FV consumption ( p = .003), and fat- ( p = .02) and fiber-related ( p = .008) behaviors at 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, dietary behaviors improved significantly in the nutrition but not in the physical activity group. Effect sizes were medium to large. Discussion: A 12-week, behavioral nutrition intervention improved dietary behaviors. Behavioral interventions may be a low-cost way to improve dietary behaviors among older adults, potentially affecting population health significantly.


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