Intermittent standing does not acutely improve postprandial metabolism in university students

Height-adjustable workstations offer a practical strategy to reduce sedentary behaviour in student populations, but the effect of standing intervals on young adults’ metabolic health remains uncertain. This study investigated the acute impact of breaking up sitting time with intermittent standing on postprandial metabolic responses in university students. Using a randomised, cross-over design, 23 participants (13 females, 10 males; age, 24 ± 5 years; BMI, 23.2 ± 3.1 kg/m2) completed two trials: 2 hours of uninterrupted sitting (SIT); and 2 hours alternating between sitting and standing every 30 minutes (STAND). During this period, participants underwent an oral glucose tolerance test, with [glucose] and [insulin] measured. Ad libitum food intake post intervention was also measured. No significant effects between trials nor trial × time interaction was found for [glucose] or [insulin] (all p > 0.05). The postprandial iAUC did not differ for [glucose] (p = 0.824; SIT: 222 ± 83 mmol/L; STAND: 225 ± 90 mmol/L) or [insulin] (p = 0.269; SIT: 17507 ± 9738 pmol/L; STAND: 15649 ± 10181 pmol/L). There were no differences in energy or macronutrient intake between trials. These findings indicate that interrupting sitting with 30-minute standing intervals does not improve postprandial metabolic responses in young, normal-weight adults.