Fidget Theory

I usually agree with information that comes from the Mayo Clinic, but this as of yet unpublished study by James Levin has left me scratching my head AND anxious to see the actual data on this small (18) sample study that was completed in 2007. Three years ago, hmmmm, why so long unpublished?

I learned about the study from a news piece written by HealthDay reporter, Alan Mozes. In this study, Dr. Levin and assistants were able to modify a work setting in an office that agreed to be in the project. This of course would mean that the worksite was able to have all these embellishments for FREE. Dr. Levine proposed in his study that by making the worksite as active as possible - in little ways, like fidgeting ways - enough extra calories would be burned to promote weight loss.

The workers had their landlines removed so they could walk about while talking, and a path was put in so that workers could walk laps while having meetings. Now this was NOT to be exercise - but strolling (very leisurely pace) about while also doing other things.

You might have heard the concept before and I do not for one minute dispute that moving about burns more calories than not moving about, but Dr. Levine is credited with saying that these little things - moving meetings, standing telephone calls, stairs instead of elevators can burn an extra 400-500 calories a day - where as an hour at the gym is going to burn about 70, says he. My margin note for that paragraph was "bullshit."

True, we do not burn 100s of calories in our aerobic classes or even while running, but the true benefit of exercise is a reduction in disease risk. The person who burns an extra 400 calories a day with the suggestions Dr. Levine made is the person who a) weighs A LOT and b) was completely sedentary before adding these things.

I am more compelled to move more at work based on the studies that suggest adverse health consequences from being still - not from this very small study of 18 people who lost weight during the six month intervention. BTW, the participants were able to wear those uber expensive activity monitors as well -these technical devices can track all activity and metabolism - (you think a pedometer is motivating?). The activity monitors would be nearly impossible for any of us to purchase - probably make the IPAD look cheap.

It is interesting too, that the short public news piece doesn't tell us much about the nutritional counseling that the staff was offered. Did the 18 people actually start eating less calories? It is quite likely their weight loss would be most attributed to that behavior.

I do want to be clear - I one hundred percent agree that we sit down too much and that any time you can get up and walk around at work - to go to the copier, to go ask a question, to get your lunch box out of your car because you CHOSE not to bring it in in the morning, to mail a letter, to help someone carry things to their car - anything -anytime- is GOOD FOR YOU - I just don't think it should be your weight loss/maintenance strategy nor that it can take the place of 30-60 minutes of continuous exercise as that has cardiorespiratory benefits that fidgeting just isn't going to equal.