Nearly 60 years ago, Morris and colleagues showed that train conductors who were more physically active at work than bus drivers had fewer coronary heart incidences. Since then, numerous comprehensive studies on physical activity and health have been launched, and today, the relationship is clear. Far less attention has been focused on health implications for how active one is at work. Meanwhile, a related but distinct area of research on sedentary behavior has emerged. We know that those who sit for prolonged periods of time have increased blood lipids, glucose, and additionally have suppressed triglyceride uptake—all of which increase risk for a myriad of chronic diseases. In response to these findings, many manufacturers of standing and active workstations are cropping up. Yet, seated office stations remain the normative standard for most workplace environments. Although standing and active workstations clearly have the potential to reduce occupational sitting and increase overall energy expenditure, their feasibility and acceptability in workplace environments is unclear. This session will address this potential and engage attendees in a critical examination of the acceptability and feasibility of standing or active workstations in their own workplace environment.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn health risks associated with prolonged sitting.
2. Learn how U.S. occupational trends away from goods production to service industry enterprises and the related changes in occupational energy expenditure.
3. Learn the importance of workplace environmental and policy modifications to increase occupational energy expenditure.
4. Critically examine the feasibility and acceptability of standing and active workstations workplace environments.
Credit: 1 CoM
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