An interventional study of Control and Sit-Stand Desk at Work in Pre Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, sponsored by Medical College of Wisconsin. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 79 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-04.
Sponsored by Medical College of Wisconsin · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
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).
793 studies on the registry are indexed under Glucose Intolerance; 115 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 198 is above the median of 56 across 661 interventional studies indexed under Glucose Intolerance.
Browse Glucose Intolerance studies →Medical College of Wisconsin is the lead sponsor of 548 studies on the registry; 122 are open to participants now.
Of its 75 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 57 (76%) have results posted.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Defined as "at-risk" for diabetes, defined as either:
Having one or more additional risk factors: (beyond BMI>25)
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HbA1c
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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
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
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
No intervention.
Subjects will receive a sit-stand desk at their work location.
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.
Time frame: change from baseline to 6 months
HbA1c
Determine if use of a sit-stand desk improves HbA1c.
Time frame: change from baseline to 6 months
fasting glucose
Determine if use of a sit-stand desk improves fasting glucose.
Time frame: change from baseline to 6 months
fasting insulin level
Determine if use of a sit-stand desk improves (reduces) fasting insulin levels.
Time frame: change from baseline to 6 months
Plan to share: Yes
Supporting information: Study protocol, Informed consent form
Time frame: Within 1 year of completion of all studies procedures
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