title: Increasing physician activity with treadmill desks.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prolonged sitting has been shown to increase mortality and obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether physicians would use a treadmill desk, increase their daily physical activity and lose weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 overweight and obese physicians aged 25 to 70 with Body Mass Index > 25.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants used a treadmill desk, a triaxial accelerometer, and received exercise counseling in a randomized, cross-over trial over 24 weeks. Group 1 received exercise counseling, accelerometer feedback, and a treadmill desk for 12 weeks and then accelerometer only for 12 weeks. Group 2 received an accelerometer without feedback for 12 weeks followed by exercise counseling, accelerometer feedback, and the treadmill desk for 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Daily physical activity increased while using the treadmill desk compared to not using the desk by 197 kcal per day (p=0.003). The difference in weight during the two 12 week periods was 1.85 kg (p=0.03). Percent body fat was 1.9% lower while using the treadmill desk (p=0.02). There were no differences in metabolic or well-being measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that physicians will use a treadmill desk, that it does increase their activity, and that it may help with weight loss. Further studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Warren G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Koepp
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010809:Physical Fitness; D010820:Physicians; D014481:United States; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Physical activity; obesity; occupational activity