Strategies for Reducing Sedentary Lifestyle

Overseen By Jen Jondac, BS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Arizona State University

Must not be taking: Insulin, corticosteroids, growth hormone, melatonin

Disqualifiers: Sleep disorders, drug abuse, THC use, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

30 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but it excludes those on medications that significantly affect glucose metabolism and sleep, like insulin and melatonin.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Blue light, Eating, Standing for reducing a sedentary lifestyle?

Research suggests that interventions targeting sedentary behavior, such as environmental changes and self-monitoring, are promising in reducing sitting time. Additionally, reducing sedentary time is considered a modifiable factor for improving health, especially in older adults, indicating that strategies like standing more often could be beneficial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is standing generally safe for reducing sedentary behavior?

Standing, especially using sit-stand desks, is generally considered safe and can reduce sedentary time without reported adverse effects. It may also improve some health markers like blood flow and insulin resistance. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How does the treatment 'Blue light, Eating, Standing' differ from other treatments for reducing a sedentary lifestyle?

This treatment is unique because it combines blue light exposure, dietary changes, and standing to reduce sedentary behavior, unlike other interventions that often focus solely on increasing physical activity or reducing screen time. The integration of these components may address multiple aspects of sedentary behavior, potentially leading to more effective lifestyle changes. ^{1 10 11 12 13}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and participant adherence in using home-based technologies and wearable devices and simple, practical strategies to reduce the negative impact that evening screen time may have on your health.

Research Team

Dorothy Sears, PhD

Principal Investigator

Arizona State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals who often sit and watch screens in the evening and may have cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, or obesity. Participants should be willing to use home-based technologies and wearable devices.

Inclusion Criteria

BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2; ≥25 kg/m2 if Asian

Reporting an average of ≥3 hours of recreational sedentary screen time per day extending until at least 9:00pm

On a typical night, consumes calories after 8:00pm

Exclusion Criteria

Recent or upcoming jetlag

Current practice of evening and nighttime blue light blocking

Any condition or circumstance that would prevent compliance to the protocol

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline

Participants undergo baseline measurements and assessments using wearable devices and home-based technologies

2 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in behavioral interventions including avoiding dietary intake after 8pm, blocking blue-light exposure after 8pm, and breaking up prolonged sitting with standing after 5pm

2 weeks per condition

Multiple conditions in a crossover design

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in sedentary screen time, glycemic control, and other health metrics

2 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Blue light
• Eating
• Standing

Trial Overview The study tests if using blue light filters, standing desks, and specific eating strategies can lessen health risks from sedentary screen time. It measures how well participants accept these methods and stick with them.

Participant Groups

Group I: Standing-Eating Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Intervention 1: Participants will be sent notifications each hour on the hour from 5pm until bed time to stand for 10 minutes that hour. Intervention 2: Participants will be encouraged to stop eating at 8pm.

Group II: Standing-Blue Light Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Intervention 1: Participants will be sent notifications each hour on the hour from 5pm until bed time to stand for 10 minutes that hour. Intervention 2: Participants will be encouraged to wear blue light blocking glasses at 8pm until bed time.

Group III: Eating-Standing Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Intervention 1: Participants will be encouraged to stop eating at 8pm. Intervention 2: Participants will be sent notifications each hour on the hour from 5pm until bed time to stand for 10 minutes that hour.

Group IV: Eating-Blue Light Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Intervention 1: Participants will be encouraged to stop eating at 8pm. Intervention 2: Participants will be encouraged to wear blue light blocking glasses at 8pm until bed time.

Group V: Blue light-standing Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Intervention 1: Participants will be encouraged to wear blue light blocking glasses at 8pm until bed time. Intervention 2: Participants will be sent notifications each hour on the hour from 5pm until bed time to stand for 10 minutes that hour.

Group VI: Blue light-Eating Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Intervention 1: Participants will be encouraged to wear blue light blocking glasses at 8pm until bed time. Intervention 2: Participants will be encouraged to stop eating at 8pm.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Arizona State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

311

Recruited

109,000+

Findings from Research

A review of 26 studies found that interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behavior in adults were categorized as very promising (39%), quite promising (21%), and non-promising (39%), with worksite-based interventions being the most common.

The most effective strategies included environmental restructuring and self-monitoring techniques, suggesting that future interventions should focus on modifying environments and enhancing self-regulatory skills to reduce sedentary behavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How to reduce sitting time? A review of behaviour change strategies used in sedentary behaviour reduction interventions among adults. Gardner, B., Smith, L., Lorencatto, F., et al.[2023]

This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce sedentary behavior in older adults (aged 60 and above) living in long-term care facilities, where sedentary behavior is particularly prevalent, averaging 9.4 hours per day.

The review will follow rigorous methods, including the PRISMA guidelines and risk of bias assessments, to ensure reliable results that could inform future interventions aimed at improving health outcomes for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Interventions for Reducing Sedentary Behaviour in Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Protocol for a Systematic Review. Karkauskiene, E., Tully, MA., Dudoniene, V., et al.[2023]

A study involving 2,809 university students showed that using decisional cues significantly reduced sedentary behavior, with sitting time decreasing from 92.9% to 84.5% over three weeks.

The implementation of decisional cues also increased standing time from 5.6% to 10.9% and active behavior from 1.5% to 4.5%, suggesting that simple prompts can effectively encourage more movement among students.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stand Up, Students! Decisional Cues Reduce Sedentary Behavior in University Students. Mnich, C., Bachert, P., Kunkel, J., et al.[2020]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How to reduce sitting time? A review of behaviour change strategies used in sedentary behaviour reduction interventions among adults. [2023]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sedentary time in older men and women: an international consensus statement and research priorities. [2019]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects on sedentary behaviour of an approach to reduce sedentary behaviour in patients with minor ischaemic stroke: A randomised controlled trial. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of different operationalizations of sedentary behavior in people with chronic stroke. [2021]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Interventions for Reducing Sedentary Behaviour in Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Protocol for a Systematic Review. [2023]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stand Up, Students! Decisional Cues Reduce Sedentary Behavior in University Students. [2020]

7. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can reducing sitting time in the university setting improve the cardiometabolic health of college students? [2022]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Call to Clarify the Intensity and Classification of Standing Behavior. [2021]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of standing desks on cardiometabolic and vascular health. [2023]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Television watching increases motivated responding for food and energy intake in children. [2023]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sedentary behaviour and disease risk. [2023]

12. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Free-Living Energy Balance Behaviors Are Associated With Greater Weight Loss During a Weight Loss Program. [2021]

13. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventions designed to reduce sedentary behaviours in young people: a review of reviews. [2018]