Recruiting

Sedentary Behavior Interruption

Sponsor:

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Code:

NCT05316571

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior

Sedentary Time

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 30 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

One 5-Minute Walking Bout Each Hour

One 15-Minute Standing Bout Each Hour

One 5-Minute Walking Bout and One 15-Minute Standing Bout Each Hour

Uninterrupted Sitting

Study Details

Brief summary:

There is strong evidence for the association between sedentary behaviors and cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke. However, the public currently has no clear guidance on how to limit or interrupt their sedentary behaviors. This study will identify and test the physiological effects of several sedentary behavior interruption strategies and explore the feasibility (i.e., likelihood of an individual performing the requested activities) of those strategies to inform the development of public policy surrounding sedentary behavior interruption. Long-term, the findings of this study will inform a large clinical trial that can test whether sedentary behavior reduction can decrease cardiovascular disease risk.

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior

Sedentary Time

Study ID

NCT05316571

Start date

Aug 15, 2022

Status verified date

Mar, 2026

Completion date

May 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May 31, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 30 - 60

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged between 30-60 years
  • Insufficiently active: self-reported exercise <90 minutes per week for the past 3 months
  • Sedentary: self-reported sitting >8 hours per day
  • Self-reported ability to walk 4 blocks and climb 2 flights of stairs
  • Possession of cellular phone able to receive text messages

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Use of assisted-walking devices
  • Comorbid condition that would limit the ability to reduce sedentary behavior (e.g., musculoskeletal condition, current chemotherapy)
  • Plans for major surgery within next 3 months
  • Recent history (<1 year) of ischemic heart disease, chronic heart failure, stroke, or chronic kidney disease
  • Recent (< 1 year) or planned bariatric surgery
  • Systolic blood pressure ≥160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mmHg
  • Current or recent (within last 6 months) pregnancy; current or recent (within last 3 months) breastfeeding
  • Morbidly obesity (BMI >40 kg/m\^2) or underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m\^2)
  • Use of anti-hypertensive drugs
  • Use of glucose-controlling medication
  • Heavy alcohol consumption (>15 drinks per week)

Study Design

Enrollment

56 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Prevention

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: One 5-Minute Walking Bout Each Hour

A 4-hour sedentary behavior bout, during which the participant remains seated while watching a non-stimulatory documentary.

The interruption strategy includes breaking up the 4-hour sitting bout with one 5-minute light intensity walking bout each hour. Each participant will be re-randomized to any of the non-completed arms after completion of the initial 4-hour sitting bout and interruption strategy until all arms have been completed.

active comparator: One 15-Minute Standing Bout Each Hour

A 4-hour sedentary behavior bout, during which the participant remains seated while watching a non-stimulatory documentary.

The interruption strategy includes breaking up the 4-hour sitting bout with one 15-minute standing bout each hour. Each participant will be re-randomized to any of the non-completed arms after completion of the initial 4-hour sitting bout and interruption strategy until all arms have been completed.

active comparator: One 5-Minute Walking Bout and One 15-Minute Standing Bout Each Hour

A 4-hour sedentary behavior bout, during which the participant remains seated while watching a non-stimulatory documentary.

The interruption strategy includes breaking up the 4-hour sitting bout with one 5-minute light intensity walking bout and one 15-minute standing bout each hour. Each participant will be re-randomized to any of the non-completed arms after completion of the initial 4-hour sitting bout and interruption strategy until all arms have been completed.

active comparator: Uninterrupted Sitting

A 4-hour sedentary behavior bout, during which the participant remains seated while watching a non-stimulatory documentary.

This uninterrupted sedentary bout will serve as a control. Each participant will be re-randomized to any of the non-completed arms after completion of the initial 4-hour sitting bout and interruption strategy until all arms have been completed.

Interventions

One 5-Minute Walking Bout Each Hour

One 5-minute light intensity walking break per hour throughout the 4-hour SB condition

One 15-Minute Standing Bout Each Hour

One 15-minute standing break per hour throughout the 4-hour SB condition

One 5-Minute Walking Bout and One 15-Minute Standing Bout Each Hour

Two breaks per hour throughout the 4-hour SB condition, alternating between a 5-minute light intensity walking break and a 15-minute standing break

Uninterrupted Sitting

No breaks will be provided throughout the 4-hour SB condition. This will be used as the control condition

Primary outcome measure

  • Mean Change in Carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cfPWV) [ Time Frame: Measurements will be taken immediately before and after each 4-hour SB condition ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Erik Hanson, PhD

9199620816switchstudy@unc.edu

Locations

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Recruiting

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599

Contacts

Erik Hanson, PhD

919-962-0816switchstudy@unc.edu

Principal Investigator:

Erik D Hanson, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Last update posted

Mar 16, 2026

Last verified

Mar, 2026

Keywords

  • Sedentary Behavior
  • Interruption
  • Sitting
  • Cardiovascular
  • Arterial Stiffness
  • Pulse Wave Velocity

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill on 2026-03-16.