Affiliations: Department of Design and Environmental Analysis,
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Ying Hua, Department of Design and
Environmental Analysis, M Van Rensselaer East, Room E3421, Cornell University,
Ithaca, NY, USA. Tel.: +1 607 254 6415; Fax: +1 607 255 0305; E-mail: yh294@cornell.edu
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The pursuit of efficiency and the permeation of
communication technologies in modern workplace have increased prolonged sitting
and physical inactivity among the white-collar workforce. Physical inactivity
is a major risk factor for developing various chronic diseases and obesity. OBJECTIVE: This study intends to understand the impact of physical
environment on both voluntary and imperative physical activity levels in an
office building, and to collect evidence for design suggestions to encourage
office workers' activity level on a daily basis. This study examined how
proximity from individual workstations to various shared service and amenity
spaces in the workplace (e.g., meeting spaces, copy areas, kitchens, restrooms,
elevators, and stairs) is associated with office workers' physical activity
level (e.g., sedentary and non-sedentary behavior) and their environmental and
job satisfaction. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: To objectively measure
physical activity, twenty-six office workers, in a three-story office building,
wore accelerometers for three consecutive days at work. Environmental and job
satisfaction of office workers was measured by a questionnaire. Proximity
variables were measured using the floor plans of the subject building. CONCLUSIONS: Participants on average were sedentary for 80% of the time
during the study. Proximity to several service and amenity areas was positively
associated with step counts and job satisfaction.
Keywords: Workplace, sedentary behavior, shared service and amenity spaces
