Can increased standing during the workday benefit metabolic health?

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New epidemiological and experimental evidence, from our group and others, indicates that prolonged sitting is associated with adverse cardio-metabolic consequences, independent of time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Furthermore, we have recently reported for the first time that breaks in sedentary time (such as standing from a seated position) are beneficially associated with several cardio-metabolic biomarkers, independent of total sedentary and moderate-to-vigorous activity time. Our pilot research in a cohort of Australian workers indicates that office-based workers spend more than three quarters of their total work time sedentary. Combined with evidence from the USA that workplace sitting time is associated with cardiovascular disease risk, these new findings suggest that reducing prolonged periods of unbroken sitting in the workplace may offer a novel and economically viable means of improving cardio-metabolic health in the working population. No intervention study has systematically investigated the effects of reducing workplace sitting time on cardio-metabolic risk factors. Preliminary data from our laboratory indicates that brief bouts of light intensity activity during prolonged periods of sitting acutely improves postprandial glucose and insulin in older, sedentary adults during a single-day intervention. The proposed study will extend upon these findings and examine -- in a simulated office environment -- the short term (10-day) effect of reducing workplace sedentary time through systematic, sustained bouts of standing, on biomarkers of cardio-metabolic risk. Given the enormous societal burden associated with cardiovascular disease and its associated conditions, this is an important and timely study. Furthermore, the workplace has been identified by the National Preventative Health Taskforce as a key environment for health promotion and disease prevention. Findings from this rigorous, experimental study will determine whether reducing workplace sedentary time through increased standing is beneficial to cardio-metabolic health. This novel experimental investigation will provide a key element of the evidence base to underpin the development of future workplace innovations, programs and policy strategies which aim to reduce sedentary behaviour.