title: Objectively Measured Total and Occupational Sedentary Time in Three Work Settings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sedentary behaviour increases the risk for morbidity. Our primary aim is to determine the proportion and factors associated with objectively measured total and occupational sedentary time in three work settings. Secondary aim is to study the proportion of physical activity and prolonged sedentary bouts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained using ActiGraph accelerometers from employees of: 1) a financial service provider (n = 49 men, 31 women), 2) two research institutes (n = 30 men, 57 women), and 3) a construction company (n = 38 men). Total (over the whole day) and occupational sedentary time, physical activity and prolonged sedentary bouts (lasting ≥30 minutes) were calculated by work setting. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine general, health and work-related factors associated with sedentary time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The employees of the financial service provider and the research institutes spent 76-80% of their occupational time in sedentary behaviour, 18-20% in light intensity physical activity and 3-5% in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. Occupational time in prolonged sedentary bouts was 27-30%. Total time was less sedentary (64-70%), and had more light intensity physical activity (26-33%). The employees of the construction company spent 44% of their occupational time in sedentary behaviour, 49% in light, and 7% in moderate intensity physical activity, and spent 7% in sedentary bouts. Total time spent in sedentary behavior was 56%, 40% in light, and 4% in moderate intensity physical behaviour, and 12% in sedentary bouts. For women, low to intermediate education was the only factor that was negatively associated with occupational sedentary time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sedentary behaviour is high among white-collar employees, especially in highly educated women. A relatively small proportion of sedentary time was accrued in sedentary bouts. It is recommended that worksite health promotion efforts should focus on reducing sedentary behaviour through improving light intensity physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Style, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Dommelen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Body@Work TNO-VUmc, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Coffeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
authors.forename: Hidde P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: van der Ploeg
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Body@Work TNO-VUmc, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Allard J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van der Beek
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Body@Work TNO-VUmc, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cécile R L
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Boot
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Style, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Leiden, The Netherlands.|Body@Work TNO-VUmc, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ingrid J M
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Hendriksen
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes; D000328:Adult; D060389:Construction Industry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D017132:Workplace