About This Project

What if we could reimagine the typical office, and create an environment capable of improving our physical and mental health? Millions of people suffer elevated risk for heart disease and death because of prolonged daily sitting. A movement-oriented office design will be associated with increased non-repetative movement, with long-term cardiovascular and mental health improvements. A cheap, effective office design could bring these health benefits to millions.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

I am at a high risk for heart disease. Partly this is due to family genetics. Mostly this is due to lifestyle. Like millions of others, I sit at a desk all day every day.

USA Today has warned that "sitting is the new smoking." Estimates suggest only 48% of adults reach the recommended levels of physical movement each day. Prolonged sitting is linked to metabolic changes in the body, termed inactive physiology. These body changes are linked to increased risk of death of all causes, even if people exercise frequently after sitting for hours. To summarize, the risk of death increases as time spent sitting increases.

Additionally, research found that standing still is not significantly better for your health than sitting still.

A better solution must be devised.

What is the significance of this project?

Physical inactivity is responsible for almost 10% of premature deaths, globally. Additionally, many chronic conditions such as heart disease, break and colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes are related to physical inactivity. And these rates are even higher for our children. More and more workdays, and school days, require long amounts of sitting.

My design template is taken from an environment where people stand and move while working: the kitchen. This will feature a centralized table, with countertops on the walls and clear paths for continued movement about the room. Resources will be deliberate spread throughout the room to facilitate the necessity of movement, resulting in increased daily steps, improved cardio elasticity, and better mental health.

What are the goals of the project?

For this pilot study, a single subject will be studied using Time-Series Analysis.

Pre- and post-intervention data will be collected on currently levels of physical activity, including: daily steps, time standing, heart rate, and cardiovascular elasticity. These data will be collected using health-tracking devices. Additionally, mental health information will collected each day using brief automated surveys.

Once all data is collected, the baseline trends will be compared to the experimental office-movement trends for differences.

We hypothesize experimental trends will demonstrate significantly higher levels of daily steps, time standing, and cardio elasticity, as well as lower levels of anxiety, depressive thought, and higher workplace satisfaction.