A randomized controlled trial on the effect of workplace counseling on physical activity, sitting time and breaks in sitting time and the association of occupational sedentary behavior with well-being

The increase in hybrid-work or work-from-home demands setting-specific strategies to improve health promoting behaviors. This study compared the effects of a behavioral intervention based on individualized workplace counseling to an educational approach based on a standardized factsheet. University employees (n=121) were randomly allocated to three groups receiving: 1) a factsheet visualizing the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior, 2) 20 minutes of individualized counseling on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior, or 3) no advice (control group). Physical activity (minutes per week) and sedentary behavior (minutes per day) during leisure- and occupational time were assessed before and after interventions using the Nordic Physical Activity Questionnaire). Further outcomes were well-being (WHO-5 questionnaire), pain intensity and pain interference with work (both with the Short Form 36 Health Survey). Effects of the interventions were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The participants (age 43.6, 12.2 years, body mass index 24.3, 3.9 kg/m²) showed high levels of leisure-time physical activity (294.30, 215.37 minutes) and moderate levels of sedentary behavior (504.33, 158.82 minutes) at baseline. Overall, physical activity levels (32.37, 112.51 minutes) and especially vigorous intensity levels (3.88, 19.64 minutes) at work were low. A large share of daily sedentary time was accumulated (414.05, 105.19 minutes). The individualized counseling group decreased workplace sedentary time (-30.73, 81.74 minutes), compared to the factsheet (0.00, 54.35 minutes) and control groups (+6.00, 72.92 minutes) , and increased workplace vigorous intensity activity (+10.24, 43.10 minutes), compared to the factsheet (+0.50, 3.16 minutes) and control group (-6.75, 28.77 minutes) (p<.05). No intervention showed any effect on leisure activity levels, well-being or perceived bodily pain (p>.05). An individualized approach to setting-specific physical activity counseling improves health promoting behaviors in physically active persons with sedentary occupations. Trial registration: Registered at the German Clinical Trial Register: drks.de (registration number: DRKS00031671; 04. Feb 2025). Retrospectively registered