摘要：Childhood obesity is a public health concern with significant health and economic impacts. We conducted a prospective experimental study in 4 classrooms in central Texas to determine the effect of desks that encourage standing rather than sitting on caloric expenditure in children. Students were monitored with calorie expenditure–measuring arm-bands worn for 10 days in the fall and spring. The treatment group experienced significant increases in calorie expenditure over the control group, a finding that has implications for policy and practice. A 2010 report released by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation entitled F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future, 2010 states that the percentage of overweight and obese children is at or above 30% in 30 states. 1 The probability of obese children becoming obese adults is significantly higher than is the probability among their nonobese counterparts. 2 , 3 Obese children who grow into obese adults also have more severe health risks than do individuals with adult-onset obesity, including potential for a shorter lifespan. 4 , 5 School-based physical activity programs and environmental changes have proven helpful in increasing health-enhancing physical activities for children. 6 - 9 However, these activities typically concentrate on small portions of a child's day and miss the opportunity to increase health-enhancing physical activities throughout the entire school day, particularly during instructional time. The pilot study described in this brief targeted childhood obesity by increasing passive calorie expenditure in the classroom. Classroom environments were modified to increase standing (rather than sitting) by replacing students’ and teachers’ traditional seated desks with standing height desks specifically manufactured for this study (Artco-Bell, Temple, TX); standing height stools were also provided to allow students to sit at their discretion. This concept biased the classroom environment toward standing, encouraging healthy movements, and increased energy expenditure.
