Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

The contribution of office work to sedentary behaviour associated risk

Authors: Sharon Parry, Leon Straker

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Sedentary time has been found to be independently associated with poor health and mortality. Further, a greater proportion of the workforce is now employed in low activity occupations such as office work. To date, there is no research that specifically examines the contribution of sedentary work to overall sedentary exposure and thus risk. The purpose of the study was to determine the total exposure and exposure pattern for sedentary time, light activity and moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of office workers during work and non-work time.

Methods

50 office workers from Perth, Australia wore an Actical (Phillips, Respironics) accelerometer during waking hours for 7 days (in 2008–2009). Participants recorded wear time, waking hours, work hours and daily activities in an activity diary. Time in activity levels (as percentage of wear time) during work and non-work time were analysed using paired t-tests and Pearson’s correlations.

Results

Sedentary time accounted for 81.8% of work hours (light activity 15.3% and MVPA 2.9%), which was significantly greater than sedentary time during non-work time (68.9% p < 0.001). Office workers experienced significantly more sustained sedentary time (bouts >30 minutes) and significantly less brief duration (0–10 minutes) light intensity activity during work hours compared to non-work time (p < 0.001). Further, office workers had fewer breaks in sedentary time during work hours compared to non-work time (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Office work is characterised by sustained sedentary time and contributes significantly to overall sedentary exposure of office workers.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Bauman A, Ainsworth BE, Sallis JF, Hagstromer M, Craig CL, Bull FC, Pratt M, Venugopal K, Chau J, Sjostrom M: The descriptive epidemiology of sitting - a 20 country comparison using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Am J Prev Med. 2011, 41: 228-235. 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.05.003.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Katzmarzyk PT, Church TS, Craig CL, Bouchard C: Sitting time and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009, 41 (5): 998-1005. 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181930355.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Healy GN, Wijndaele K, Dunstan DW, Shaw JE, Salmon J, Zimmet PZ, Owen N: Objectively measured sedentary time, physical activity, and metabolic risk. Diab Care. 2008, 31 (2): 369-371.CrossRef
4.
Thorp A, Owen N, Neuhaus M, Dunstan D: Sedentary Behaviours and subsequent health outcomes in adults - A systematic review of longitudinal studies 1996–2011. Am J Prev Med. 2011, 41 (2): 207-215. 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.05.004.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Owen N, Sugiyama T, Eakin EE, Gardiner PA, Trembly MS, Sallis JF: Adults' sedentary behaviour determinants and interventions. Am J Prev Med. 2011, 41 (2): 189-196. 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.05.013.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Proper KI, Singh AS, van Mechelen W, Chinapaw MJM: Sedentary Behaviours and Health Outcomes Amoung Adults. Am J Prev Med. 2011, 40 (2): 174-182. 10.1016/j.amepre.2010.10.015.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Sedentary Behaviour Research Network: Letter to the Editor: Standardized use of the terms "sedentary" and "sedentary behaviours". Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012, 37: 540-542. 10.1139/h2012-024.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Dunstan D, Salmon J, Owen N, Armstrong T, Zimmet PZ, Cameron AJ, Dwyer T, Jolley D, Shaw JE: Physical activity and television viewing in relation to risk of undiagnosed abnormal glucose metabolism in adults. Diab Care. 2004, 27 (11): 2603-2609. 10.2337/diacare.27.11.2603.CrossRef
9.
Healy GN, Mathews CE, Dunstan D, Winkler EAH, Owen N: Sedentary time and cardio-metabolic biomarkers in US adults: NHANES 2003–6. Eur Heart J. 2011, 32: 590-597. 10.1093/eurheartj/ehq451.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
10.
Healy GN, Dunstan DW, Salmon J, Cerin E, Shaw JE, Zimmet PZ, Owen N: Breaks in sedentary time. Diab Care. 2008, 31: 661-666. 10.2337/dc07-2046.CrossRef
11.
Healy GN, Dunstan D, Salmon J, Cerin E, Shaw JE, Zimmet PZ, Owen N: Objectively measured light-intensity physical activity is independently associated with 2-h plasma glucose. Diab Care. 2007, 30 (6): 1384-1389. 10.2337/dc07-0114.CrossRef
12.
Camhi SM, Sisson SB, Johnson WD, Katzmarzyk PT, Tudor-Locke C: Accelerometer-determined moderate intensity activity and cardiometabolic health. Prev Med. 2011, 52: 358-360. 10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.01.030.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Matthews CE, Chen KY, Freedson PS, Buchowski MS, Beech BM, Pate RR, Troiano RP: Amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors in the United States, 2003–2004. Am J Epid. 2008, 167 (7): 875-881. 10.1093/aje/kwm390.CrossRef
14.
Borodulin K, Laatikainen T, Juolevi A, Jousilahti P: Thirty-year trends of physical activity in relation to age, calendar time and birth cohort in Finnish adults. Eur J Public Health. 2007, 18 (3): 339-344.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Brownson RC, Boehmer TK, Luke DA: Declining rates of physical activity in the United States. Annu Rev Public Health. 2005, 26: 421-443. 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144437.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Kirk MA, Rhodes RE: Occupation correlates of adults' participation in leisure-time physical activity - a systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2011, 40: 476-485. 10.1016/j.amepre.2010.12.015.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Straker L, Mathiassen SE: Increased physical workloads in modern work - a necessity for better health and performance?. Ergonomics. 2009, 52 (10): 1215-1225. 10.1080/00140130903039101.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Burton NW, Turrell G: Occupation, Hours Worked, and Leisure-Time Physical Activity. Prev Med. 2000, 31 (6): 673-681. 10.1006/pmed.2000.0763.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Salmon J, Owen N, Bauman A, Schmitz MKH, Booth M: Leisure-Time, Occupational, and Household Physical Activity among Professional, Skilled, and Less-Skilled Workers and Homemakers. Prev Med. 2000, 30 (3): 191-199. 10.1006/pmed.1999.0619.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Tigbe WW, Lean ME, Granat MH: A physically active occupation does not result in compensatory inactivity during out-of-work hours. Prev Med. 2011, 53: 48-52. 10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.04.018.CrossRefPubMed
21.
van Uffelen JGZ, Wong J, Chau JY, van der Ploeg HP, Riphagen I, Gilson ND, Burton NW, Healy GN, Thorp AA, Clark BK: Occupational sitting and health risks: A systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2010, 39 (4): 379-388. 10.1016/j.amepre.2010.05.024.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Thorp A, Healy G, Winkler E, Clark B, Gardiner P, Owen N, Dunstan D: Prolonged sedentary time and physical activity in workplace and non-work contexts: a cross-sectional study of office, customer service and call centre employees. IJBNPA. 2012, 9 (1): 128-PubMedPubMedCentral
23.
Ryan CG, Grant MP, Dall PM, Granat MH: Sitting patterns at work: objective measurement of adherance to current recommendations. Ergonomics. 2011, 54 (6): 531-538. 10.1080/00140139.2011.570458.CrossRef
24.
Toomingas A, Forsman M, Mathiassen SE, Heiden M, Nilsson T: Variation between seated and standing/walking postures among male and female call centre operators. BMC Public Health. 2012, 12: 154-10.1186/1471-2458-12-154.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Eslinger DW, Tremblay MS: Technical reliability assessment of three accelerometer models in a mechanical setup. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006, 38: 2173-2181. 10.1249/01.mss.0000239394.55461.08.CrossRef
26.
Wong SL, Colley RC, Connar Gorber S, Tremblay MS: Actical accelerometer sedentary thresholds for adults. J Phys Act Health. 2011, 8: 587-591.PubMed
27.
Kayes NM, Schluter PJ, McPherson KM, Leete M, Mawston G, Taylor D: Exploring Actical accelerometers as an objective measure of physical activity in people with Multiple Sclerosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009, 90: 594-601. 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.10.012.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Rand D, Eng JJ, Tang P, Jeng J, Hung C: How active are people with stroke? Use of accelerometers to assess physical activity. Stroke. 2009, 40: 163-168. 10.1161/STROKEAHA.108.523621.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Colley RC, Garriguet D, Janssen I, Craig CL, Clark J, Tremblay MS: Physical activity of Canadian Adults: Accelerometer results from 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Statistics Canada, Catalogue no 82-003-XPE. Health Rep. 2011, 22 (1): 15-22.PubMed
30.
Oliver M, Schofield GM, Badlands HM, Shepherd J: Utility of accelerometer thresholds for classifying sitting in office workers. Prev Med. 2010, 51: 357-360. 10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.08.010.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Troiano RP, Berrigan D, Dodd KW, Masse LC, Tilert T, McDowell M: Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometry. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008, 40 (1): 181-188.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Colley RC, Gorber S, Tremblay MS: Quality control and data reduction procedures for accelerometry-derived measures of physical activity. Statistics Canada, Catalogue no 82-003-XPE. Health Rep. 2010, 21 (1): 63-69.PubMed
33.
Welk GJ, Schaben JA, Morrow JR: Reliability of accelerometer-based activity monitors: A generalizability study. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004, 36 (9): 1637-1645.PubMed
34.
Welk GJ: Physical activity assessments for health-related research. 2002, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers
35.
Mathiassen SE: Diversity and variation in biomechanical exposure: What is it, and why would we like to know?. Appl Ergon. 2006, 37: 419-427. 10.1016/j.apergo.2006.04.006.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Paul DR, Kramer M, Moshfegh AJ, Baer DJ, Rumpler WV: Comparison of two different physical activity monitors. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2007, 7: 26-10.1186/1471-2288-7-26.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Freedson PS, Melonson E, Sirard J: Calibration of Computer Science and Applications, Inc. accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998, 30 (5): 777-781. 10.1097/00005768-199805000-00021.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Straker L, Campell A: Translation equations to compare Actigraph GT3X and Actical accelerometers activity counts. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2012, 12: 54-10.1186/1471-2288-12-54.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
39.
Metzger JS, Catellier DJ, Evenson KR, Treuth MS, Rosamond WD, Siega-Riz A: Patterns of objectively measured physical activity in the United States. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008, 40 (4): 630-638. 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181620ebc.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Hagstromer MOP, Sjostrom M: Physical activity and inactivity in an adult population assessed by accelerometry. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007, 39 (9): 1502-1508. 10.1249/mss.0b013e3180a76de5.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Jago R, Fox KR, Page AS, Brockman R, Thompson JL: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour typologies of 10–11 year olds. IJBNPA. 2010, 7: 59-PubMedPubMedCentral
42.
Steele R, van Sluijs E, Cassidy A, Griffin S, Ekelund U: Targeting sedentary time or moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity: independent relations with adiposity in a population-based sample of 10-y-old British children. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009, 90: 1185-1192. 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28153.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Trost SG, McIver KL, Pate RR: Conducting accelerometer-based activity assessment in field -based research. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005, 37: S531-S543. 10.1249/01.mss.0000185657.86065.98.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Ward DS, Evenson KR, Vaughn A, Brown Rodgers A, Troiano RP: Accelerometer use in physical activity: best practices and research recommendation. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005, 37 (11 (Supplement)): S582-S588.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Grant MP, Ryan CG, Tigbe WW, Granat MH: The validation of a novel activity monitor in the measurement of posture and motion during everyday activities. Br J Sports Med. 2006, 40: 992-997. 10.1136/bjsm.2006.030262.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
46.
Hamilton MT, Healy G, Dunstan D, Zderic TW, Owen N: Too Little Exercise and Too Much Sitting: Inactivity Physiology and the Need for New Recommendations on Sedentary Behaviour. Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports. 2008, 2: 292-298. 10.1007/s12170-008-0054-8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
47.
Gilson ND, Suppini A, Ryde GC, Brown HE, Brown WJ: Does the use of standing 'hot' desks change sedentary work time in an open plan office?. Prev Med. 2012, 54: 56-67.CrossRef
48.
49.
Engbers L, van Poppel M, van Mechelen W: Modest effects of a controlled worksite environmental intervention on cardiovascular risk in office workers. Prev Med. 2007, 44: 356-362. 10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.11.005.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Freak-Poli R, Wolfe R, Backholer K, de Courten M, Peeters A: Impact of a pedometer-based workplace health program on cardiovascular and diabetes risk profile. Prev Med. 2011, 53: 162-171. 10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.06.005.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Levine JA, Miller JM: The energy expenditure of using a "walk-and-work" desk for office workers. Br J Sports Med. 2007, 47: 558-561.CrossRef
52.
Straker L, Levine J, Campell A: The effects of walking and cycling computer workstations on keyboard and mouse performance. Hum Factors. 2009, 51: 831-844. 10.1177/0018720810362079.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Owen N, Healy G, Mathews CE, Dunstan D: Too much sitting: the population health science of sedentary behaviour. Sport Sci Rev. 2010, 38 (3): 105-113. 10.1097/JES.0b013e3181e373a2.CrossRef
54.
Aaras A: Relationship between trapezius load and the incidence of musculoskeletal illness in the neck and shoulder. Int J Indust Ergon. 1994, 14: 341-348. 10.1016/0169-8141(94)90022-1.CrossRef
55.
Falla D, Farina D: Periodic increases in force during sustained contraction reduce fatigue and facilitate spatial redistribution of trapezius muscle activity. Exp Brain Res. 2007, 178 (3): 385-393. 10.1007/s00221-006-0746-6.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Hagg G, Astrom A: Load pattern and pressure pain threshold in the upper trapezius muscle and psychosocial factors in medical secretaries with and without shoulder/neck disorders. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1997, 69: 423-432. 10.1007/s004200050170.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Dunstan DW, Kingwell BA, Larsen R, Healy GN, Cerin E, Hamilton MT, Shaw JE, Bertovic DA, Zimmet PZ, Salmon J: Breaking up prolonged sitting reduces postprandial glucose and insulin responses. Diab Care. 2012, 35 (3): 976-983.CrossRef
58.
National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults. Australian Government Department of Health and Aging. 2005
59.
Tucker JM, Welk GJ, Beyler NK: Physical Activity in U.S. Adults: Compliance with the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Am J Prev Med. 2011, 40 (4): 454-461. 10.1016/j.amepre.2010.12.016.CrossRefPubMed
60.
Cahill K, Moher M, Lancaster T: Workplace interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Databse of Systematic Reviews. 2008, Art. No.: CD003440:
61.
Osilla KC, Van Busum K, Schnyer C, Larkin JW, Eibner C, Mattke S: Systematic review of the impact of worksite wellness programs. Am J Manag Care. 2012, 18 (2): e68-e81.PubMed
62.
Van Domelen DR, Koster A, Caserotti P, Brychta RJ, Chen KY, McClain JJ, Troiano RP, Berrigan D, Harris TB: Employment and physical activity in the U.S. Am J Prev Med. 2011, 41 (2): 136-145. 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.03.019.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
The contribution of office work to sedentary behaviour associated risk
Authors
Sharon Parry
Leon Straker
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-296

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

BMC Public Health 1/2013 Go to the issue

Research article

Health-related quality of life in overweight German children and adolescents: do treatment-seeking youth have lower quality of life levels? Comparison of a clinical sample with the general population using a multilevel model approach

Research article

Gender differences in attitudes impeding colorectal cancer screening

Research article

Compliance and enforcement of a partial smoking ban in Lisbon taxis: an exploratory cross-sectional study

Research article

Exploring the potential for using results-based financing to address non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries

Research article

Development and feasibility testing of a smart phone based attentive eating intervention

Research article

Suicide and related health risk behaviours among school learners in South Africa: results from the 2002 and 2008 national youth risk behaviour surveys