Numerous environmental changes have resulted in children not only becoming less physically active but also spending unnecessarily long periods of time sitting, particularly in the school classroom. There is growing evidence that too much sitting can be bad for children's health. However, the effects of changing the physical environment of the traditional classroom and implementing targeted teaching strategies to reduce children’s classroom sitting time have never been tested. A cluster randomised controlled trial is proposed to examine the efficacy of an eight-month school-based intervention targeting the physical environment with the introduction of sit-stand work stations. This study, which will involve six Melbourne schools, aims to reduce classroom sitting time in 300 grade six primary school children. Findings from this trial of a broad-reach and feasible-to-implement intervention will provide level one evidence needed to inform future school-based sedentary time reduction programs, which may be integrated into Australian schools and routine teaching practices.
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