Carpenter, Katie C

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to examine the effect on continuously monitored blood glucose (BG) among participants with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) who used a height-adjustable desk while working. Methods The study was a repeated-measures pilot study in overweight or obese women who had IFG (BG >100 mg·dL −1 ) and a sedentary job. BG was monitored with continuous glucose monitoring devices during two 1-wk periods at work: 1 wk in the seated position and 1 wk using alternate bouts of sitting and standing (by adjusting their desks) throughout the workday. Results Ten women completed the study. Sedentary time significantly predicted BG independently of diet and overall physical activity ( P = 0.02). Dietary carbohydrates, protein, and fat were significant predictors of BG ( P < 0.001). Conclusions Sedentary time is a strong predictor of increased BG in women with IFG and a sedentary job.

Background Sedentary time has been shown to have deleterious effects on health. Today's workforce spends most of the day sitting. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of workplace interventions to decrease sedentary time on cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods Sedentary office workers (n=127; ages 22‐64; BMI=28.5±6.1 kg/m 2 ) were recruited from three Minnesota employers and randomized to one of four intervention groups for 6 months: 1) Control, 2) Move (蠅30 min of light activity during the workday), 3) Stand (standing 蠅50% of the workday using a sit‐stand workstation), or 4) Stand+Move (combined Stand and Move). A 'metabolic risk score' (MRS) was calculated at baseline and 6 months using the following cardiometabolic risk factors: blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, log of fasting triglycerides, and HDL‐cholesterol. A z‐score was computed for each risk factor for each subject [(subject value – sample mean)/sample SD]. The MRS was derived by summing the z‐scores (HDL‐z subtracted). Results There was a significant intervention effect on MRS (p<.01). A seasonal time trend was observed, with MRS increasing significantly in Control and Move groups (p<.001), but not for the Stand and Stand+Move. Results (mean±se) are shown in Figure 1. Conclusions Sit‐stand workstations combined with an intervention to increase light physical activity at work may be an effective tool to improve cardiometabolic risk. image