# Randomized Trial to Reduce Sitting Time and Improve Cardiometabolic Health in Obese Older Adults

> **NIH NIH R01** · KAISER FOUNDATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2020 · $670,149

## Abstract

Abstract
Nearly 40% of adults over age 60 are obese. On average, these individuals spend over 10 hours a day
sitting. This is a concern since emerging research shows higher sitting time is associated with worse
cardiovascular and metabolic health. In fact, most obese older adults have comorbid cardiometabolic
conditions. Interventions which can reduce sitting time in this high-risk population could improve health and
lower health care costs. As such, more research is needed to develop interventions to effectively reduce sitting
time among older obese adults. The proposed study will address this important goal and build on the promising
results of our I-STAND randomized pilot study. This study found that a theory-based, multi-modal behavioral
intervention which combined phone counseling and technology-based behavioral prompts was feasible,
acceptable, and significantly reduced sitting time (-75 minutes/day in the intervention compared to control
group, p < .01). Among those with elevated blood pressure at baseline, blood pressure also improved in two of
our pilot studies. In short, we found that I-STAND warrants evaluation in a large randomized controlled trial.
The current study will compare I-STAND to an attention-matched control intervention among participants over
age 60, with obesity, and who sit more than 8 hours per day (N = 284). Both interventions include one in-
person session and 9 follow-up phone calls. Experimental participants will also receive prompts for standing
via wrist-worn technology and a home environment audit to identify modifications to improve standing time. All
participants will be followed for 12 months. After 6 months, experimental participants will be re-randomized to
receive either 5 additional booster calls or no further intervention, allowing us to assess the effects of the initial
intervention and booster sessions. The primary outcomes will be reduction in sitting time as measured by a
thigh-worn activPAL inclinometer and blood pressure. The secondary outcomes include changes in
cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g. weight, lipids, fasting glucose). Mediators of significant treatment effects will
also be explored. If effective, I-STAND could easily be implemented by health care systems to improve the
health of older obese adults nationwide.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9901567
- **Project number:** 5R01HL132880-03
- **Recipient organization:** KAISER FOUNDATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Dori E Rosenberg
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $670,149
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9901567

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9901567, Randomized Trial to Reduce Sitting Time and Improve Cardiometabolic Health in Obese Older Adults (5R01HL132880-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9901567. Licensed CC0.

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