Stand up for Your Health With a Sit-stand Desk

NCT05585190 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 44431
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 198
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

More than 84 million - or 1 out of every 3 U.S. adults - have prediabetes, a condition that if not treated often leads to type 2 diabetes within five years. Average medical expenditures among diabetics are about 2.3 times higher than expenditures for people without diabetes. Physical inactivity and elevated body mass index (BMI) are major risk factors for the disease. Sedentary behavior is becoming increasingly prevalent with the growth of a 'work from home' culture, most recently driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional epidemiologic data report significant associations between high amounts of sedentary (sitting) time and prevalent cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In our pilot study of 15 subjects with sedentary office jobs, 6 months of sit-stand desk use resulted in a 23% improvement in insulin resistance, most substantial in those who decreased daily sitting by over 90 minutes/day. Additional improvements in vascular endothelial function and triglyceride levels were seen without any change in exercise activity, step counts, or body weight. These findings not only corroborate epidemiologic findings on this topic but suggest causality and warrant a randomized control trial. The investigators hypothesize that adult subjects at-risk for diabetes will improve insulin sensitivity, metabolic and vascular (endothelial) health with a sit-stand desk intervention at work (whether in the office or at home), in the context of a randomized, controlled trial. The investigators will randomize 198 sedentary office workers with a BMI≥25 at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in a 1:1:1 ratio of three groups: (a) sit-stand desk intervention targeting 2 hours standing per day; (b) sit-stand desk intervention targeting 3 hours standing per day; or (c) control arm over 6 months. The block randomization design will allow for important dose-response analyses. The investigators will objectively quantify standing time, sedentary time, sedentary bouts, daily steps, and exercise activity times using a compact and re-usable accelerometer that adheres to the subject's thigh. This will provide objective assessments of activity levels and sedentary times for 7 full days each at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The device is equipped with an inclinometer to classify posture (sitting verses standing).

Conditions

Pre Diabetes; Obesity; Metabolic Syndrome; Sedentary Behavior

Keywords

Pre Diabetes; Obesity; Metabolic Syndrome; Cardiovascular; Sit-stand desk; Physical Activity; Overweight; Sedentary; Standing desk; Insulin resistance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR)

  Determine if use of a sit-stand desk improves insulin sensitivity and ascertain if there is a dose-response relationship with changes in sedentary time.

  change from baseline to 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• HbA1c

  change from baseline to 6 months

• fasting glucose

  change from baseline to 6 months

• fasting insulin level

  change from baseline to 6 months

Study Arms (3)

Control

OTHER

Subjects will not receive a sit/stand desk for the duration of the study and will be asked to follow their normal work day routine.

Other: Control

2-Hour Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Sit-stand desk intervention group, subjects are asked to maintain the desk in the standing position at LEAST 2 hours each work day.

Other: Sit-Stand Desk at Work

3-Hour Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Sit-stand desk intervention group, subjects are asked to maintain the desk in the standing position at LEAST 3 hours each work day.

Other: Sit-Stand Desk at Work

Interventions

Control OTHER

No intervention.

Control

Sit-Stand Desk at Work OTHER

Subjects will receive a sit-stand desk at their work location.

2-Hour Group; 3-Hour Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 79 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Overweight or obese (body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or higher)
• Employees with "sedentary" jobs, defined as spending at least 75% of their (8 hours or more) workday sitting at a desk (at home or in an office)
• Defined as "at-risk" for diabetes, defined as either:
• Prediabetes (HbA1c of 5.7% to 6.4%) or a fasting glucose of 100 to 125 mg/dL
• Having one or more additional risk factors: (beyond BMI\>25)
• Age 45 years or older
• Family history of diabetes mellitus in a first-degree relative
• Physical inactivity (no structured exercise activity)
• History of gestational diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia
• African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander ethnicity

You may not qualify if:

• Established cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, coronary stent, coronary artery bypass grafting, cardiac transplant, or angina)
• Established congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• Established peripheral vascular disease
• Established diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or on diabetes medications or insulin)
• Chronic musculoskeletal disorders involving the lower extremities, such as arthritis of the knees or hips, or regular use of ambulatory assist devices such as a walker or cane
• Neuropathy of any etiology
• Positional syncope or history of orthostasis
• Less than 4 days/week at any single office (or work-from-home) location.
• Current use of a standing desk for work
• Tobacco use within the previous 12 months
• Current illicit drug use or excessive alcohol use (defined as more than 14 drinks/week for women, more than 28 drinks/week for men)
• Steroid use ≥21 days/year
• Fasting triglyceride level ≥ 500 mg/dL
• Thyroid disease
• Uncontrolled or untreated hypertension(\>150/90 mm Hg)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical College of Wisconsin: lead

Study Sites (1)

Medical College of Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (2)

• Bodker A, Visotcky A, Gutterman D, Widlansky ME, Kulinski J. The impact of standing desks on cardiometabolic and vascular health. Vasc Med. 2021 Aug;26(4):374-382. doi: 10.1177/1358863X211001934. Epub 2021 Apr 5. Erratum In: Vasc Med. 2023 Feb;28(1):NP1. doi: 10.1177/1358863X221142381.

  PMID: 33813968 BACKGROUND

• Hammad M, Shankar S, Gao Y, Kulinski J. Stand up for your health: Rationale and design for a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2026 Feb;161:108216. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2026.108216. Epub 2026 Jan 6.

  PMID: 41506470 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Glucose Intolerance; Obesity; Metabolic Syndrome; Sedentary Behavior; Motor Activity; Overweight; Insulin Resistance

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hyperglycemia; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Hyperinsulinism; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Jacquelyn Kulinski, MD

CONTACT

414-955-6896; jakulinski@mcw.edu

Ryan Kacala

CONTACT

414-955-6885; rkacala@mcw.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator, Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 15, 2022
• First Posted: October 18, 2022
• Study Start: February 6, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Last Updated: May 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
• Time Frame: Within 1 year of completion of all studies procedures

Locations

US (1)