Gamifying Accelerometer Use Increases Physical Activity Levels of Sedentary Office Workers.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary work is hazardous. Over 80% of all US jobs are predominantly sedentary, placing full-time office workers at increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity and mortality. Thus, there is a critical need for effective workplace physical activity interventions. MapTrek is a mobile health platform that gamifies Fitbit use for the purpose of promoting physical activity. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of MapTrek for increasing daily steps and moderate-intensity steps over 10 weeks in a sample of sedentary office workers. METHODS AND RESULTS: Participants included 146 full-time sedentary office workers aged 21 to 65 who reported sitting at least 75% of their workday. Each participant received a Fitbit Zip to wear daily throughout the intervention. Participants were randomized to either a: (1) Fitbit-only group or 2) Fitbit + MapTrek group. Physical activity outcomes and intervention compliance were measured with the Fitbit activity monitor. The Fitbit + MapTrek group significantly increased daily steps (+2092 steps per day) and active minutes (+11.2 min/day) compared to the Fitbit-only arm, but, on average, participants' steps declined during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: MapTrek is an effective approach for increasing physical activity at a clinically meaningful level in sedentary office workers, but as with accelerometer use alone, the effect decreases over time. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03109535.

Relative burst amplitude of muscle sympathetic nerve activity is an indicator of altered sympathetic outflow in chronic anxiety.

Relative burst amplitude of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) is an indicator of augmented sympathetic outflow and contributes to greater vasoconstrictor responses. Evidence suggests anxiety-induced augmentation of relative MSNA burst amplitude in patients with panic disorder; thus we hypothesized that acute stress would result in augmented relative MSNA burst amplitude and vasoconstriction in individuals with chronic anxiety. Eighteen participants with chronic anxiety (ANX; 8 men, 10 women, 32 ± 2 yr) and 18 healthy control subjects with low or no anxiety (CON; 8 men, 10 women, 39 ± 3 yr) were studied. Baseline MSNA and 24-h blood pressure were similar between ANX and CON ( P > 0.05); however, nocturnal systolic blood pressure % dipping was blunted among ANX ( P = 0.02). Relative MSNA burst amplitude was significantly greater among ANX compared with CON immediately preceding (anticipation) and during physiological stress [2-min cold pressor test; ANX: 73 ± 5 vs. CON: 59 ± 3% arbitrary units (AU), P = 0.03] and mental stress (4-min mental arithmetic; ANX: 65 ± 3 vs. CON: 54 ± 3% AU, P = 0.02). Increases in MSNA burst frequency, incidence, and total activity in response to stress were not augmented among ANX compared with CON ( P > 0.05), and reduction in brachial artery conductance during cold stress was similar between ANX and CON ( P = 0.92). Relative MSNA burst amplitude during mental stress was strongly correlated with state ( P < 0.01) and trait ( P = 0.01) anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), independent of age, sex, and body mass index. Thus in response to acute stress, both mental and physiological, individuals with chronic anxiety demonstrate selective augmentation in relative MSNA burst amplitude, indicating enhanced sympathetic drive in a population with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Relative burst amplitude of muscle sympathetic nerve activity in response to acute mental and physiological stress is selectively augmented in individuals with chronic anxiety, which is a prevalent condition that is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Augmented sympathetic burst amplitude occurs with chronic anxiety in the absence of common comorbidities. These findings provide important insight into the relation between anxiety, acute stress and sympathetic activation.

Learning to Stand: The Acceptability and Feasibility of Introducing Standing Desks into College Classrooms.

Prolonged sedentary behavior is an independent risk factor for multiple negative health outcomes. Evidence supports introducing standing desks into K-12 classrooms and work settings to reduce sitting time, but no studies have been conducted in the college classroom environment. The present study explored the acceptability and feasibility of introducing standing desks in college classrooms. A total of 993 students and 149 instructors completed a single online needs assessment survey. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the fall semester of 2015 at a large Midwestern University. The large majority of students (95%) reported they would prefer the option to stand in class. Most students (82.7%) reported they currently sit during their entire class time. Most students (76.6%) and instructors (86.6%) reported being in favor of introducing standing desks into college classrooms. More than half of students and instructors predicted having access to standing desks in class would improve student's "physical health", "attention", and "restlessness". Collectively, these findings support the acceptability of introducing standing desks in college classrooms. Future research is needed to test the feasibility, cost-effectiveness and efficacy of introducing standing desks in college classrooms. Such studies would be useful for informing institutional policies regarding classroom designs.