Standing Desks Can be Just as Harmful as Sitting All Day
If you’re among the estimated 80.2 million sedentary people in America, you probably have some concerns over your potential health risks. It’s no surprise trendsetters have found novel ways to combat the inactivity epidemic, one of the hottest approaches being the standing desk. There are real benefits to reducing the amount of time you spend sitting, but standing for prolonged periods may not be the answer either.
You burn more calories standing than sitting, but not many. More importantly, standing for long periods may add as many health risks as prolonged sitting. These include circulation issues, higher stroke risk, edema, fatigue, degeneration of spine and joints and increased leg, back, and foot pain.
Stand to Lose
Sitting all day at a desk can cause a slew of health issues, so the standing desk --which has moved countless people out of their chairs and onto their feet --seems an innovative solution. You do burn more calories while standing than sitting, and it makes sense that standing would be healthier. But are the potential benefits overstated?
According to a meta-analysis that compared results from 658 controlled studies, using a standing desk can help the average person lose five and a half pounds in a year. You don’t have to be a math whiz to see how impractical it would be to stand for eight hours every day just to lose about five pounds. But even if it could help you lose significantly more, the potential risks of standing that much probably wouldn’t be worth it.
Standing Just as Bad?
Studies have shown standing for extended periods can cause issues with circulation and blood pressure. People who stand a lot at work tend to have a higher frequency of edema, varicose veins, and nighttime leg cramps. This is due to blood pooling in the legs, which can also increase the risk of stroke.
Extended standing has also been linked to lower back pain, leg and foot pain, and neck and shoulder pain. Muscle fatigue and degenerative diseases of the spine and joints are also more common.
You only have so much control over your work environment, but sitting and standing for extended periods can both be dangerous. Sit-stand desks can help you alternate between sitting and standing, and this is a better option than simply sitting all day or standing all day. However, they still don’t address the idleness of staying in one spot. The American Heart Association recommends at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise each week. If you really want to fight the health effects of your desk job, ditch the trends and go for a walk each day instead, and alternate throughout the day between standing and sitting. Sometimes, there are just no substitutes or shortcuts.
~ Here’s to Your Health and Wellness
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