Standing Meetings Are Feasible and Effective in Reducing Sitting Time among Office Workers—Walking Meetings Are Not: Mixed-Methods Results on the Feasibility and Effectiveness of Active Meetings Based on Data from the “Take a Stand!” Study

Abstract

Active meetings (standing or walking) have the potential to reduce sitting time among office workers. The aim of the present study was to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of standing and walking meetings. The “Take a Stand!” study was a cluster-randomized trial, consisting of multiple components including the possibility of active meetings. Analyses were based on the 173 participants in the intervention group. Feasibility was evaluated by questionnaire and interview data from participants, ambassadors and leaders. Effectiveness was assessed as the change in objectively measured sitting time from baseline to 3 months follow-up. Regular standing meetings were implemented at all offices and were generally popular, as they were perceived as more effective and focused. In contrast, only a few walking meetings were completed, and these were generally associated with several barriers and perceived as ineffective. Participants who participated in standing meetings on a regular basis had 59 min less sitting per 8 h workday (95%CI −101;−17) compared to participants who did not participate in standing meetings at all. Walking meeting participation was not significantly associated with changes in sitting time, likely due to the low number of employees who used this option. This explorative study concludes that standing meetings in office workplaces were feasible and well-liked by the employees, and having frequent standing meetings was associated with reduced sitting time. In contrast, walking meetings were unfeasible and less liked, and thus had no effect on sitting time.

Process Evaluation of the Physical Activity at Work (PAW) Cluster-Randomised Trial in Thailand (Preprint)

“…Future research should be dedicated to advocating feasible and context-specific active meetings within an active workplace. For example, an exploratory study found that standing meetings were feasible, wellreceived by employees, and may reduce sitting time among the population [41]. However, widespread adoption faces obstacles due to prevailing sedentary work cultures and concerns about self-consciousness in front of senior staff, highlighting the need for broader social behaviour change initiatives [42] We hypothesised that movement break participation might be low due to the work arrangement during the peaks of the COVID pandemic [19].…”

Behavioral Interventions to Improve Home-Based Office-Workers’ Health

“…Active Meetings In addition to altering workstations, organizations may consider shifting norms around sedentary behavior during the workday. For example, team managers and leaders could actively promote a culture of standing during meetings (Danquah & Tolstrup, 2020;Neuhaus et al, 2014). Encouraging active meetings, such as by designating specific meetings as "desk-free," indicating that employees are recommended to join the meeting via their mobile devices while taking a walk or by integrating periods of active movement and/or stretching into traditional meetings, may allow employees more opportunities to be physically active during the workday while creating a team norm of activity during the workday (Kling et al, 2016).…”

“…Encouraging active meetings, such as by designating specific meetings as "desk-free," indicating that employees are recommended to join the meeting via their mobile devices while taking a walk or by integrating periods of active movement and/or stretching into traditional meetings, may allow employees more opportunities to be physically active during the workday while creating a team norm of activity during the workday (Kling et al, 2016). Although walking meetings may face a number of logistical barriers (Danquah & Tolstrup, 2020), recommending employees to go on walks during periods of ideation may be especially beneficial for physical health and creativity, as research indicates that walking can improve creative thinking (Oppezzo & Schwartz, 2014). Additional support from team leaders, such as a weekly recommendation, can help cultivate an environment that supports employees in being active whenever possible (Healy et al, 2013;Quintiliani et al, 2007).…”

Behavioural Interventions to Improve Home-Based Office-Workers’ Health

“…In addition to altering workstations, organizations may consider shifting norms around sedentary behaviour during the workday. For example, team managers and leaders could actively promote a culture of standing during meetings (Neuhaus et al, 2014, Danquah andTolstrup, 2020). Encouraging active meetings, such as by designating specific meetings as "desk-free", indicating that employees are recommended to join the meeting via their mobile devices while taking a walk, or by integrating periods of active movement and/or stretching into traditional meetings, may allow employees more opportunities to be physically active during the workday while creating a team norm of activity during the workday (Kling et al, 2016).…”

“…Encouraging active meetings, such as by designating specific meetings as "desk-free", indicating that employees are recommended to join the meeting via their mobile devices while taking a walk, or by integrating periods of active movement and/or stretching into traditional meetings, may allow employees more opportunities to be physically active during the workday while creating a team norm of activity during the workday (Kling et al, 2016). Although walking meetings may face a number of logistical barriers (Danquah and Tolstrup, 2020), recommending employees to go on walks during periods of ideation may be especially beneficial for physical health and creativity, as research indicates that walking can improve creative thinking (Oppezzo and Schwartz, 2014). Additional support from team leaders, such as a weekly recommendation, can help cultivate an environment that supports employees in being active whenever possible (Healy et al, 2013, Quintiliani et al, 2007.…”