A program to help office workers take short exercise breaks to reduce sitting time
Official title: Move Often eVery Day (MOV'D): An occupationally-tailored, remotely-delivered, socially-supported short exercise break intervention to decrease sedentary behavior in receptionist office staff
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10906235 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a fun new program called MOV'D that helps office workers, especially receptionists, take short exercise breaks during their day to move more and stay healthy, and it includes helpful videos and a supportive online group to keep everyone motivated.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $231,600 |
| NIH project number | 5R34HL166858-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906235 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults working in sedentary office jobs, particularly those who spend long hours sitting at desks.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already highly active or those with severe mobility limitations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new intervention called MOV'D, designed to help office staff, particularly receptionists, reduce prolonged sitting by incorporating short, 2-5 minute exercise breaks throughout their workday. The program includes user-friendly videos demonstrating these 'exercise snacks' and utilizes a social media-based support group to enhance motivation and accountability. Participants will be compared to a control group using only a Fitbit to track their activity levels, allowing researchers to assess the effectiveness of the intervention in promoting physical activity and reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved cardiovascular health and increased physical activity among office workers.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary evidence from similar interventions has shown promise, indicating that short bouts of physical activity can be effective, although this specific approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oppezzo, Marily — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Oppezzo, Marily
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.