Designing to promote physical health for the obese in commercial interiors

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to assess 1) interior designers' perceptions concerning the design of commercial workplace interiors that encourage and support physical activity, and 2) design strategies used to encourage employee physical activity within the workplace. This study was developed in part to determine perceived responsibility of the interior design profession toward the national obesity epidemic (i.e. HSW). This phenomenological study was conducted with practicing, commercial interior designers employed by large firms. Questions pertained to how participants perceive their role in 1) creating environments that impact obesity, and 2) developing design solutions to enhance physical activity in commercial interiors. The constant comparative method (CCM) was used for qualitative data analysis in the grounded theory approach.;Designers have been educated to develop efficient circulation patterns and adjacencies to enhance productivity; however, one consequence is a sedentary workplace that discourages physical activity. While momentum is gathering to encourage physical activity in community/urban planning, more needs to be done to encourage the same in interior spaces; particularly in workplaces that offer a setting for reaching large numbers of employees from varying socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.