Cognitive work on a walking desk does not lead to compensatory appetitive responses in healthy young adults

CONTEXT

In addition to the low energy expenditure induced by sedentary behaviors such as sitting, it has been shown that intense cognitive work can lead to an increase in food intake. Walking Desk provide the opportunity for office workers to replace prolonged sitting at work with light intensity physical activity.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of sitting vs standing vs walking during a cognitive task on energy intake, appetite sensations, food reward and overall energy balance.

METHODS

Fifteen normal weight (BMI: 24.1 ± 1.2 kg m-2) young men (23.4 ± 2.1 years) randomly performed three conditions: sitting desk (SitD), standing desk (StD) and walking desk (WD), while performing a 45-min cognitive task. Energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry, regular appetite sensations were assessed using visual analogue scales, energy intake measured during an ad libitum meal and the relative energy intake calculated. Pre and post-test meal food reward was evaluated through the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Relative energy intake decreased by 150 kcal in WD compared with SitD, however it did not reach statistical significance. There were no differences in appetite sensations nor food reward between the three conditions. Energy expenditure was significantly higher in WD (141.8 ± 13 kcal) than in SitD (78.7 ± 5 8 kcal) and StD (85.9 ± 8 kcal) (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Walking desk use can decrease sedentary time while working without any appetitive compensation. The small reduction in energy balance with walking while working could induce significant health benefits if repeated over time. Future longer studies need to clarify whether active desks can contribute to the prevention or management of weight gain.

[Occupational exposome: An organisational model]

This article describes the concept of occupational exposome in highlighting the value of the concept in understanding the complexity of workplace exposures and their determinants. An organizational approach to the occupational exposome is proposed. The organizational approach is intended, from an interdisciplinary perspective, to broaden the levels of analysis of the exposures (whether they are) of the individual to the work situation (individual or collective), the work situation in the workshop or in the service, the company and the socio-economic environment of the company, the socio-economic environment of the company to the Society as a whole. The organizational approach of the occupational exposome helps to broaden the spectrum of health risk assessment and to promote a comprehensive and integrated approach to the prevention of arduousness at work and occupational wear and tear.

A study of the individual activity of professional volleyball players: Situation assessment and sensemaking under time pressure

The aim of this study is to understand interindividual differences in defensive behaviour in elite volleyball players facing similar game situations. This recurrent observation leads us to adopt an activity-centred ergonomic approach. Two case studies are conducted in naturalistic contexts. In the first, thirty-one professional players are observed in order to account for typical forms of behaviour in relation to certain specific sets of game situations. Two characteristic populations are distinguished. The second study uses observations and self-confrontation interviews with twelve players representative of each population in order to characterise their situation assessment. Results highlight important contrasts between the two populations, both in behaviour and in situation assessment. They suggest that one norm of activity centred on the rally-ending issue and another on the roles to be assumed, guide the specific coherency of these populations under time pressure. The identification of these norms provides a hypothesis concerning the foundations of sensemaking. Implications for training development are discussed.

Operational leeway in work situations: do ergonomic risk assessment tools consider operational leeway for job analysis?

Our study shows that information on operational leeway is limited in the originator articles of the ergonomic risk assessment tools for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The tools' underlying theoretical models do not consider the indicators of operational leeway, and they cannot determine the sufficiency of the situational operational leeway in a work situation. Consequently, regulation of the activity, which ensures the performance goals and the individual's health, has been overlooked. The lack of literature on indicators of situational operational leeway is one of the reasons for this deficit. Defining the indicators for this concept would be an innovation in the approach of MSD risk prevention. Developing empirically the concept of situational operational leeway in risk assessment tools would help to progress the current approach of MSD prevention. This study therefore proposes indicators of situational operational leeway to increase the representativeness and reliability of the risk assessment tools for MSDs.

Sustainable MSD prevention: management for continuous improvement between prevention and production. Ergonomic intervention in two assembly line companies

To increase output and meet customers' needs, companies have turned to the development of production management systems: Kaizen, one piece flow, Kanban, etc. The aim of such systems is to accelerate decisions, react to environmental issues and manage various productions. In the main, this type of management system has led to the continuous improvement of production performance. Consequently, such production management systems can have unexpected negative effects on operators' health and safety. Conversely, regulation and control systems focusing on work-related risks have obliged firms to implement health and safety management systems such as OHSAS 18001. The purpose of this type of system, also based on continuous improvement, is to reduce risks, facilitate work-related activities and identify solutions in terms of equipment and tools. However, the prevention actions introduced through health and safety systems often result in other unexpected and unwanted effects on production. This paper shows how companies can improve the way they are run by taking into account both types of management system.