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. 2014 Mar;56(3):298-303.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000101.

Office workers' objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity during and outside working hours

Stacy A Clemes  1 , Sophie E O'Connell, Charlotte L Edwardson
Affiliations

Office workers' objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity during and outside working hours

Stacy A Clemes et al. J Occup Environ Med. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: To examine objectively determined sedentary behavior and physical activity (PA) during and outside working hours in full-time office workers.

Methods: A total of 170 participants wore an ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer for 7 days. Time spent sedentary (<100 counts/min), in light-intensity PA (100 to 1951 counts/min), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (≥1952 counts/min) was calculated for workdays (including working hours and nonworking hours) and nonworkdays.

Results: Participants accumulated significantly higher levels of sedentary behavior (68% vs 60%) and lower levels of light-intensity activity (28% vs 36%) on workdays in comparison with nonworkdays. Up to 71% of working hours were spent sedentary. Individuals who were most sedentary at work were also more sedentary outside work.

Conclusions: Those who are most sedentary at work do not compensate by increasing their PA or reducing their sedentary time outside work. Occupational interventions should address workplace and leisure-time sedentary behavior.

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