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Date of Graduation
8-16-2022
Semester of Graduation
Summer
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Health Professions
Abstract
Inactivity and sedentary behavior are major health concerns, exacerbated by the amount of time individuals spend at work. Purpose: To examine if 30-60 minutes of daily under-the-desk bicycle (UDB) use while working for 8 weeks helped sedentary and physically inactive adults reach the U.S. physical activity guidelines (PAG) and improve perceptions of wellness and job satisfaction. Methods: Subjects (n=22, average age=45.3 yrs, average BMI=30.2 kg/m2) cycled for 30-60 minutes on workdays for 8-weeks at a self-selected intensity level of 2 or 3 out of 8 total levels. Participants were advised not to engage in additional physical activity outside the study or modify their diet. Pre- and post-measures included self-reported height and weight, a 3-day food record, and the following questionnaires: Physical Activity Vital Signs, Workforce Sitting Questionnaire, Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire+, Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, Multidimensional Outcome Expectations for Exercise Scale, adapted-Health and Work Questionnaire, and behavioral beliefs construct. UDB use was reported weekly via the DeskCycle app. Participants were grouped based on HIGH (n=11) and LOW (n=11) cycling minutes and compliance, determined by the number of weeks cycling >150min. Results: UDB use increased physical activity levels to meet PAG in the HIGH group. Perceptions of overall health improved from baseline to post-intervention in both groups. The HIGH group had significant reductions weight (81.7+5.6 vs 77.9+5.5 kg) and BMI (29.3+1.5 vs 27.9+1.5 kg/m2) compared to the LOW group [(87.5+5.8 vs 88.2+6.2 kg) (31.1+2.0 vs 31.3+2.1 kg/m2)]. Change in aerobic activity was positively associated with compliance percent (p=0.041, r=0.44) and change in BMI with change in daily sedentary time (p=0.045, r=0.56). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that UDB use is an effective workplace intervention strategy to increase physical activity to meet PAG and aid weight loss in sedentary and inactive employees.
