Workplace interventions (methods) for reducing time spent sitting at work

Cochrane: Time spent sitting and being physically inactive at work has increased in recent decades. Long periods of sitting may increase the risk of obesity, heart disease, and premature death. It is unclear whether interventions that aim to reduce sitting at workplaces are effective. We wanted to find out the effects of interventions aimed at reducing sitting time at work. We searched the literature in various databases up to 9 August 2017.

Researchers link sedentary behavior to thinning in brain region critical for memory

UCLA: Sitting too much is linked to changes in a section of the brain that is critical for memory, according to a preliminary study by UCLA researchers of middle-aged and older adults. Studies show that, like smoking, too much sitting increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and premature death. Researchers at UCLA wanted to see how sedentary behavior influences brain health, especially regions of the brain that are critical to memory formation.

Parents’ sedentary behavior directly correlates with the activity level of their preschoolers.

NIH: That’s the conclusion of NIH-funded researchers who found that in underserved populations, parents’ physical activity—and their sedentary behavior—directly correlates with the activity level of their preschoolers. Researchers say these findings, published January 9 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, could lead to interventions that focus more on helping parents model—not just encourage—an active lifestyle for their children.

Workplace interventions for reducing sitting time at work

Cochrane: Physical inactivity at work has increased in recent years throughout the world increasing the risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It is unclear whether interventions that aim to reduce sitting, such as desks at which you can work while standing up (sit-stand desks), are effective at reducing the amount of time spent sitting.

Multisectoral action to promote physical activity in Switzerland

WHO Europe: Although most people know that being physically active improves health dramatically, levels of physical activity are far too low. This leads to an increased risk of a range of conditions and diseases, such as overweight and obesity, ischaemic heart disease, strokes, diabetes and some types of cancer, notably breast and colon cancer.

Wearable Tracking Devices Alone Won't Drive Health Behavior Change, According to Penn Researchers

Pennsylvania University. US: New Year’s weight loss resolutions are in full swing, but despite all the hype about the latest wearable tracking devices, there’s little evidence that this technology alone can change behavior and improve health for those that need it most, according to a new online-first viewpoint piece in JAMA.

High fitness level reduces chance of developing hypertension

American Heart Association: People with the highest fitness levels are less likely to develop hypertension, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association. “If you’re exercising and you’re fit, your chances of developing hypertension are much less than someone else who has the same characteristics but isn’t fit,” said Mouaz H. Al-Mallah, M.D., senior author of the study and a cardiologist at the Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute in Detroit, Michigan. “Increasing exercise and fitness levels probably protects against many diseases.”