The Effect of Interrupting Sedentary Behavior on the Cardiometabolic Health of Adults With Sedentary Occupations: A Pilot Study.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether mobile phone text messages could modify objectively measured sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic health in office workers. Nine males and 12 females [mean (SD): 27.5 (5.7) years, 23.8 (2.8) kg/m] were assigned to a control (CON) or intervention (PROMPT) group. PROMPT received an activity-promoting text message during office hours. Participants wore an actiGraph and activPAL accelerometer for 7 days during and after the intervention. Blood pressure, lipid, and metabolic profiles were measured before and after the intervention. PROMPT sat less [mean (95% confidence interval, 95% CI): 4.9 (4.4 to 5.4) hours/day] than CON [6.0 (5.5 to 6.4) hours/day; P = 0.04] during the message-receiving period. There was no difference between groups after the intervention and for the other activity variables. There were no changes in cardiometabolic health markers following the intervention. Sitting time was lower during the message-receiving period, but the difference between groups was no longer apparent after the intervention.