Affiliations: Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Warren G. Thompson, Mayo Clinic, 200 FirstStreet SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Tel.: +1 507 266 4847; Fax: +1 507 284 0909; E-mail: thompson.warren@mayo.edu
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. PARTICIPANTS: 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.
