Patterns of Sedentary Behaviour in Female Office Workers

Alison Kirk; Ann-Marie Gibson; Katie Laverty; David Muggeridge; Louise Kelly; Adrienne Hughes; Alison Kirk; Ann-Marie Gibson; Katie Laverty; David Muggeridge; Louise Kelly; Adrienne Hughes

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2016.3.423

AIMS Public Health

2016, Volume 3, Issue 3: 423-431. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2016.3.423

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Brief report Special Issues

Patterns of Sedentary Behaviour in Female Office Workers

1.
Physical Activity and Health group, School of Psychological Science and Health, Graham Hills Building, 40 George Street, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
2.
Exercise, Nutrition and Environment Research Group, School of Science and Sport, University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, UK
3.
Department of Exercise Science, California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, #3400, Thousand Oaks, CA 93065, USA

Received: 17 March 2016 Accepted: 22 June 2016 Published: 24 June 2016

Background: Prolonged sedentary behaviour is associated with poor health outcomes. Office workers often engage in excessive sedentary behaviour, however limited research reports on how this sedentary behaviour is accumulated. This study examines objectively measured patterns of prolonged sedentary behaviour in female office workers during weekdays and weekend days and across time of day. Methods: Full time female office workers from a Scottish University participated (N = 27 mean age 43.0 ± 11.5 yrs; BMI 25.8 ± 4.1 kg/m²). Participants wore an activPAL™ for 7 days and completed a diary of waking and working hours. Average week and weekend time sitting, standing and stepping was calculated and also expressed as a proportion of waking day. Average week and weekend daily step count and sit to stand transitions were calculated. Continuous bouts of sedentary behaviour were categorised as: 20–40, 40–60 and > 60 minutes and compared between week and weekend days and across time of day. Results: Average weekday sitting time and proportion was higher (P < 0.05) than weekend days [9.1 hrs (66%) vs 8.1 hrs (56%)]. Time and proportion spent standing was higher (P < 0.01) at weekends than weekdays [4.6 hrs (32%) vs 3.8 hrs (27%)]. Time spent stepping [weekday 1.8 hrs (12%) vs weekend 1.7 hrs (12%)] and total daily step count (weekday 8903 vs weekend day 8014) were not significanlty different (P > 0.05) on weekdays vs weekend days. The pattern of sedentary behaviour bouts was different between week and weekend days. Week days were dominated by a consistent pattern of shorter (20–40 mins) sedentary behaviour bouts. The longest continuous sedentary behaviour bouts occurred in the evening, particularly at weekends. Conclusions: In office workers the most prolonged sedentary behaviour occurred in the evening, particularly at weekends. Interventions need to target these highly saturated periods of sedentary behaviour.
- sedentary behaviour,
- office workers,
- patterns,
- female,
- objective measurement
Citation: Alison Kirk, Ann-Marie Gibson, Katie Laverty, David Muggeridge, Louise Kelly, Adrienne Hughes. Patterns of Sedentary Behaviour in Female Office Workers[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2016, 3(3): 423-431. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2016.3.423

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Abstract

Background: Prolonged sedentary behaviour is associated with poor health outcomes. Office workers often engage in excessive sedentary behaviour, however limited research reports on how this sedentary behaviour is accumulated. This study examines objectively measured patterns of prolonged sedentary behaviour in female office workers during weekdays and weekend days and across time of day. Methods: Full time female office workers from a Scottish University participated (N = 27 mean age 43.0 ± 11.5 yrs; BMI 25.8 ± 4.1 kg/m²). Participants wore an activPAL™ for 7 days and completed a diary of waking and working hours. Average week and weekend time sitting, standing and stepping was calculated and also expressed as a proportion of waking day. Average week and weekend daily step count and sit to stand transitions were calculated. Continuous bouts of sedentary behaviour were categorised as: 20–40, 40–60 and > 60 minutes and compared between week and weekend days and across time of day. Results: Average weekday sitting time and proportion was higher (P < 0.05) than weekend days [9.1 hrs (66%) vs 8.1 hrs (56%)]. Time and proportion spent standing was higher (P < 0.01) at weekends than weekdays [4.6 hrs (32%) vs 3.8 hrs (27%)]. Time spent stepping [weekday 1.8 hrs (12%) vs weekend 1.7 hrs (12%)] and total daily step count (weekday 8903 vs weekend day 8014) were not significanlty different (P > 0.05) on weekdays vs weekend days. The pattern of sedentary behaviour bouts was different between week and weekend days. Week days were dominated by a consistent pattern of shorter (20–40 mins) sedentary behaviour bouts. The longest continuous sedentary behaviour bouts occurred in the evening, particularly at weekends. Conclusions: In office workers the most prolonged sedentary behaviour occurred in the evening, particularly at weekends. Interventions need to target these highly saturated periods of sedentary behaviour.

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