Sedentary Behavior Interrupted - A Pilot Study of Acute Interventions on Prolonged Sitting

Summary

Sedentary behavior, characterized by excess sitting time during waking hours, is detrimental to health and increases cardiometabolic disease risk, independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The mechanisms that mediate this are unknown and there are no evidence-based methods known for effectively intervening on sedentary behavior. The consequences of prolonged sitting time are of particular interest in older adults as sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic disease risk both increase with aging and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity may not be feasible. This pilot study will assess interventions for sedentary older adults designed to interrupt prolonged sitting time. Interrupting sitting time through sit-to-stand transitions, and standing and walking breaks increases muscle use and blood flow in the lower parts of the body. Thus, the investigators believe that frequent sit-to-stand interruptions of sitting time are the most efficacious sedentary behavior interventions, compared to simply reducing sitting time or less frequent walking breaks, for improving health outcomes and healthy aging. The investigators hypothesize that frequency of sit-to-stands during a 5-hour sitting period will result in health benefits that can be observed with a simple 2-minute standing interruption, and that this will be associated with improvements in metabolism and endothelial function. This pilot, 10-participant study will 1) generate preliminary data for a revised Program Project Grant application to the National Institute of Aging (NIA) that focuses on postmenopausal women, the fastest growing aged population with high life-time risk of cardiometabolic risk. This pilot study will inform sitting interruption modality design for two projects in the investigators' Program Project Grant application: "Project 1: Sedentary Behavior Interrupted: A randomized crossover treatment trial of acute effects on biomarkers of healthy aging in the laboratory (86 participants)" and "Project 2: Sedentary Behavior Interrupted: A randomized trial of 6 month effects on biomarkers of healthy aging and physical functioning in the real world (660 participants)." The current design of this pilot study is enhanced by and responsive to feedback from our initial NIA submission. This pilot study will increase our knowledge about how sedentary behavior and sitting interruption interventions influence healthy aging in postmenopausal women.

Conditions

• Sedentary Lifestyle

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Frequent sit-to-stands

Participants will visit the clinic for a 6-hour monitoring period. Following a 1-hour sitting run-in period, participants will sit for an additional 5-hour period including 15 2-minute standing interruptions, 3 per hour. Baseline, mid-point, and end-of-visit bathroom breaks for urine sample collection will be conducted, with additional bathroom breaks allowed as needed.

BEHAVIORAL

Walking breaks

Participants will visit the clinic for a 6-hour monitoring period. Following a 1-hour sitting run-in period, participants will sit for an additional 5-hour period including 5 2-minute walking interruptions, 3 per hour. Baseline, mid-point, and end-of-visit bathroom breaks for urine sample collection will be conducted, with additional bathroom breaks allowed as needed.

BEHAVIORAL

Stand more

Participants will visit the clinic for a 6-hour monitoring period. Following a 1-hour sitting run-in period, participants will sit for an additional 5-hour period including 5 10-minute standing interruptions, 1 per hour. Baseline, mid-point, and end-of-visit bathroom breaks for urine sample collection will be conducted, with additional bathroom breaks allowed as needed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, San Diego

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

55 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-04-30

Primary Completion

2016-07-31

Completion

2016-07-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations