Approved Research

Adverse health consequences of a sitting occupation

Lay summary

Prolonged sitting can have serious health consequences and a high level of fitness does not protect against the negative effects of sitting for too long. Sedentary job poses therefore a risk to all individuals regardless of their physical activity outside work. We aim to identify occupations at high risk of prolonged sitting and advance our understanding of the health risks associated with sitting for extended periods of time. We will evaluate the impact of lengthy sitting on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and/or type 2 diabetes. A score evaluating risk of prolonged sitting for a given occupation will be derived for future research. Self-reported and objective accelerometer-measured sedentary behaviour data will be used to examine health risks associated with prolonged sitting. Sitting in the workplace is of primary interest but different sedentary behaviours and their interactions with physical activity will be taken into account, with adjustment for socio-demographic, genetic, and behavioural factors. We expect this project to take 24 months.