Research Study Abstract

Impact of a classroom standing desk intervention on daily objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity in youth

  • Published on Mar 2, 2018

Objectives: We investigated the impact of a standing desk intervention on daily objectively monitored sedentary behavior and physical activity in 6th grade school students.

Design: Cluster non-randomised controlled trial.

Method: Two classes (intervention students: n=22 [aged 11.8±0.4years]; control students: n=27 [11.6±0.5years]) from a public school in Lisbon were selected. The intervention involved replacing traditional seated classroom desks for standing desks, for a total duration of 16 weeks, in addition to performing teacher training and holding education/motivation sessions with students and parents. Sedentary behavior (ActivPAL inclinometer) and physical activity (Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer) were measured for seven days immediately before and after the intervention.

Results: There were no differences in baseline behaviors between intervention and control groups (p>0.05). At follow-up (16 weeks), it was observed that the intervention group had decreased time spent sitting (total week: -6.8% and at school: -13.0% relative to baseline) and increased standing (total week: 16.5% and at school: 31.0%) based on inclinometer values (p-value for interaction group*time <0.05). No significant differences in activity outcomes were observed outside school time (week or weekend) between groups.

Conclusions: We conclude that a 16 week classroom standing desk intervention successfully reduced sitting time and increase standing time at school, with no observed compensatory effects outside of school time.

Author(s)

  • Silva DR 1
  • Minderico CS 2
  • Pinto F 3
  • Collings PJ 4
  • Cyrino ES 5
  • Sardinha LB 6

Institution(s)

  • 1

    Study and Research Group in Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise - GEPEMENE, Londrina State University, Brazil; Exercise and Health Laboratory, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
  • 2

    Exercise and Health Laboratory, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
  • 3

    Departament of Social Sciences, Eça de Queiros High School, Portugal.
  • 4

    Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; University of York, Department of Health Sciences, United Kingdom.
  • 5

    Study and Research Group in Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise - GEPEMENE, Londrina State University, Brazil.
  • 6

    Exercise and Health Laboratory, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: lsardinha@fmh.ulisboa.pt.

Journal

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

Categories

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