Circulation

Sit-to-stand transitions lower BP in older women with obesity, overweight

August 12, 2025

Encouraging frequent sit-to-stand transitions may offer a simple, low-barrier strategy to improve CV health in sedentary postmenopausal women. Unlike general advice to “sit less,” this targeted behavior change yielded measurable benefits without requiring structured exercise or major lifestyle overhaul.

Study details: In this three-arm randomized controlled trial, 407 sedentary postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity were assigned to one of three groups for 12 weeks: a control group (healthy living), a “sit less” group aiming to reduce total sitting time, and a “sit-to-stand” group instructed to increase daily sit-to-stand transitions (STSTs). All participants received seven coaching sessions and wore activity monitors to track behavior.

Results: The “sit less” group reduced sitting time by 58 minutes/day but didn’t increase STSTs. Conversely, the “sit-to-stand” group increased STSTs by 26/day without significantly reducing sitting time. Only the sit-to-stand group showed statistically significant reductions in diastolic (–2.24 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], -4.08 to -0.40; P=0.02) and systolic (–3.33 mm Hg; 95% CI, -6.32 to -0.33; P=0.03) BP, although it didn’t reach the a priori significance threshold of P<0.025. No significant changes were observed in glucose regulation markers in any group.

Source:

Hartman SJ, et al. (2025, July 25). Circulation. Impacts of Reducing Sitting Time or Increasing Sit-to-Stand Transitions on Blood Pressure and Glucose Regulation in Postmenopausal Women: Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40709462/