The SOS-framework (Systems of Sedentary behaviours): an international transdisciplinary consensus framework for the study of determinants, research priorities and policy on sedentary behaviour across the life course: a DEDIPAC-study.

BACKGROUND: Ecological models are currently the most used approaches to classify and conceptualise determinants of sedentary behaviour, but these approaches are limited in their ability to capture the complexity of and interplay between determinants. The aim of the project described here was to develop a transdisciplinary dynamic framework, grounded in a system-based approach, for research on determinants of sedentary behaviour across the life span and intervention and policy planning and evaluation. METHODS: A comprehensive concept mapping approach was used to develop the Systems Of Sedentary behaviours (SOS) framework, involving four main phases: (1) preparation, (2) generation of statements, (3) structuring (sorting and ranking), and (4) analysis and interpretation. The first two phases were undertaken between December 2013 and February 2015 by the DEDIPAC KH team (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity Knowledge Hub). The last two phases were completed during a two-day consensus meeting in June 2015. RESULTS: During the first phase, 550 factors regarding sedentary behaviour were listed across three age groups (i.e., youths, adults and older adults), which were reduced to a final list of 190 life course factors in phase 2 used during the consensus meeting. In total, 69 international delegates, seven invited experts and one concept mapping consultant attended the consensus meeting. The final framework obtained during that meeting consisted of six clusters of determinants: Physical Health and Wellbeing (71% consensus), Social and Cultural Context (59% consensus), Built and Natural Environment (65% consensus), Psychology and Behaviour (80% consensus), Politics and Economics (78% consensus), and Institutional and Home Settings (78% consensus). Conducting studies on Institutional Settings was ranked as the first research priority. The view that this framework captures a system-based map of determinants of sedentary behaviour was expressed by 89% of the participants. CONCLUSION: Through an international transdisciplinary consensus process, the SOS framework was developed for the determinants of sedentary behaviour through the life course. Investigating the influence of Institutional and Home Settings was deemed to be the most important area of research to focus on at present and potentially the most modifiable. The SOS framework can be used as an important tool to prioritise future research and to develop policies to reduce sedentary time

Validation of a smart chair and corresponding smartphone app as an objective measure of desk-based sitting

Objectives: This study evaluated the validity of a smart chair and corresponding smartphone app (chair&app) to measure sitting time and sitting interruptions against camera-derived observation and activPAL. Methods: Belgian deskbound university employees (n=28, 17 women, mean age 30±7.5 years, mean BMI 22.1±2.0 kg/m²) were provided with the chair&app in three conditions: a controlled condition (following a prescribed protocol), a free-living condition (conducting usual office work for two hours) and an extended free-living condition (conducting usual office work for three consecutive days). Total sitting time and the number of sitting interruptions were compared between the chair&app and criterion measures (camera observation and activPAL). Criterion validity was assessed using mean differences (95% CI) and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC; 95% CI). Results: In the controlled condition, mean sitting time and number of sitting interruptions differed between chair&app and camera observation by 2.7 (-2.4, 7.9) minutes and -8.0 (-10.4, -5.6) interruptions, respectively. For the free-living condition, there was good agreement between the chair&app and camera observation for both sitting time (ICC:0.74; 0.28, 0.93) and sitting interruptions (ICC:0.68; 0.10, 0.91). For the extended free-living condition, there was excellent agreement between chair&app and activPAL for sitting time (ICC:0.89; 0.49, 0.97). Meanwhile, there was poor agreement between chair&app and activPAL for sitting interruptions (ICC:0.38; -0.04, 0.70). Conclusions: Chair&app generally provided reliable measures of desk-based sitting. Consequently, chair&app might be useful as a self-monitoring tool in the workplace context. Further research is needed to explore its usefulness in reducing adults’ desk-based sitting. Key words: workplace, sedentary behavior, measurement, smartphone, validationstatus: publishe

Workplace counseling intervention to promote physical activity in insufficiently active employees: lessons learned from Belgium

status: accepte

Increasing employees’ health by workplace physical activity counseling: the mediating role of step-based physical activity behavior change

Background: This study evaluated the effects of a 3-month workplace physical activity (PA) intervention on employees’ health-related fitness and well-being. Moreover, mediational pathways were examined. Methods: A longitudinal, quasi-experimental trial was evaluated in Belgian employees. The intervention group (IG: n=246) received 3-months individualized, tailored PA counseling, consisting of face-to-face counseling and follow-up e-mail and telephone contacts. The reference group (RG; n=54) received no PA counseling. Outcome measures (assessed at baseline, three months (short-term) and nine months (long-term)) included body composition (BC), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), well-being and step-based PA. Results: With no changes in the RG, the IG showed short-term improvements in BMI (-0.24 kg/m2,P<.001), body fat (-0.88%,P<.001), waist circumference (-1.47 cm,P<.001) and muscle percentage (+0.47%,P<.001). Moreover, with respect to CRF, IG participants improved on perceived exertion, both in the short- (-0.91,P<.001) and long-term (-0.83,P<.001). Furthermore, perceived physical well-being increased in the IG, both in the short- (+0.57,P<.001) and long-term (+0.57,P<.001). The observed intervention effects on BC, perceived exertion and well-being were mediated by (increases in) step-based PA. Conclusions: Workplace PA counseling programs have the potential to enhance employees’ health-related fitness and well-being. Importantly, step-based PA behavior change was found to contribute to the post-intervention improvements.status: publishe

Increasing employees’ health by workplace physical activity counseling: The mediating role of step-based physical activity behavior change in session

status: Published onlin

Short- and long-term effectiveness of a three-month individualized need-supportive physical activity counseling intervention at the workplace

Abstract Background The objective of the present study was to evaluate the short- and long-term intervention and mediation effects of a 3-month individualized need-supportive physical activity (PA) counseling intervention on employees\u2019 PA and sedentary behavior. Methods Insufficiently active employees ( n \u2009=\u2009300; mean age 42\u2009\ub1\u20099\ua0years; 78% female) were recruited from a large pharmaceutical company in Flanders, Belgium. A quasi-experimental design was used in which the intervention group ( N \u2009=\u2009246) was recruited separately from the reference group ( N \u2009=\u200954). Intervention group participants received a 3-month behavioral support intervention, which consisted of two one-hour face-to-face counseling sessions and three follow-up counseling contacts by e-mail or telephone at weeks three, six and nine. PA counseling, delivered by qualified PA counselors, aimed to satisfy participants\u2019 basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Reference group participants did not receive individualized PA counseling. Outcome measures included objectively assessed and self-reported PA and sedentary time and psychological need satisfaction. Assessments were held at baseline, immediately after the intervention (short-term) and 6\ua0months post-intervention (long-term). Mixed model analyses and bootstrapping analyses were used to determine intervention and mediation effects, respectively. Results The intervention group increased weekday daily steps both in the short- and long-term, while the reference group showed reductions in daily step count (ES\u2009=\u2009.65 and ES\u2009=\u2009.48 in the short- and long-term, respectively). In the short-term, weekday moderate-to-vigorous PA increased more pronouncedly in the intervention group compared to the reference group (ES\u2009=\u2009.34). Moreover, the intervention group demonstrated reductions in self-reported sitting time during weekends both in the short- and long-term, whereas the reference group reported increased sitting time (ES\u2009=\u2009.44 and ES\u2009=\u2009.32 in the short- and long-term, respectively). Changes in perceived autonomy and competence need satisfaction mediated the long-term intervention effects on daily step count. Conclusions A 3-month individualized need-supportive PA counseling intervention among employees resulted in significant and sustained improvements in weekday daily step count and in decreased self-reported sitting during weekends. Our findings contribute to the growing evidence of the long-term ..

Increasing employees’ health by workplace physical activity counseling: the mediating role of step-based physical activity behavior change

Background: This study evaluated the effects of a 3-month workplace physical activity (PA) intervention on employees’ health-related fitness and well-being. Moreover, mediational pathways were examined. Methods: A longitudinal, quasi-experimental trial was evaluated in Belgian employees. The intervention group (IG: n=246) received 3-months individualized, tailored PA counseling, consisting of face-to-face counseling and follow-up e-mail and telephone contacts. The reference group (RG; n=54) received no PA counseling. Outcome measures (assessed at baseline, three months (short-term) and nine months (long-term)) included body composition (BC), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), well-being and step-based PA. Results: With no changes in the RG, the IG showed short-term improvements in BMI (-0.24 kg/m2,P&lt;.001), body fat (-0.88%,P&lt;.001), waist circumference (-1.47 cm,P&lt;.001) and muscle percentage (+0.47%,P&lt;.001). Moreover, with respect to CRF, IG participants improved on perceived exertion, both in the short- (-0.91,P&lt;.001) and long-term (-0.83,P&lt;.001). Furthermore, perceived physical well-being increased in the IG, both in the short- (+0.57,P&lt;.001) and long-term (+0.57,P&lt;.001). The observed intervention effects on BC, perceived exertion and well-being were mediated by (increases in) step-based PA. Conclusions: Workplace PA counseling programs have the potential to enhance employees’ health-related fitness and well-being. Importantly, step-based PA behavior change was found to contribute to the post-intervention improvements.status: publishe

Evaluation of stAPP: a smartphone-based intervention to reduce prolonged sitting among Belgian adults.

Excessive uninterrupted sitting, also known as sedentary behavior, has been detrimentally associated with several health outcomes. However, the general population is often unaware of these health risks. Mobile phone technology offers great potential to increase awareness and to initiate behavior change. This study examined the short-term effects of stAPP, a smartphone-based intervention, on prolonged sitting behavior. Fifty-eight participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG, n = 31) or a control group (CG, n = 27). After 1 week of baseline assessment, the IG received stAPP (i.e. smartphone, smartphone app and corresponding motion sensor) and used it during the following week. CG participants were monitored during 2 weeks without receiving stAPP. Total daily sitting time and prolonged sitting bouts (>30 min bouts of sitting) were objectively assessed using activPAL3 inclinometers. Although no significant changes emerged in the CG in any of the sitting parameters, total sitting time (on weekdays; p = 0.032), number of prolonged sitting bouts (>30 min of sitting) [both on week- (p < 0.001) and weekend days (p = 0.008)] and average duration of prolonged sitting bouts [both on week- (p = 0.004) and weekend days (p = 0.029)] decreased significantly in the IG. The stAPP smartphone-based intervention constitutes a promising intervention tool to interrupt and reduce prolonged sitting behavior. Further long-term studies on a larger scale are needed to further explore the effectiveness of a smartphone-based intervention aimed at reducing prolonged sitting behavior.status: Published onlin

EMG signals of a representative subject from the tibialis anterior muscle during ankle dorsiflexion with the dominant leg.

<p>Grey lines represent trials after sham-tDCS, black lines after anodal-tDCS. Dotted lines represent trials with a SAS, solid lines trials without a SAS.</p