Another Study on Sitting vs. Standing at Work

CNN published an article this morning, detailing another study about the potential risks of too much sitting.  Author Emmanuel Stamatakis explains that there are a multitude of factors that go into whether sitting at work is harmful, including how much exercise you get outside of work, how much exercise is incorporated into your daily routine, whether or not you are obese to start with, and even how much time you spend watching TV.

He says, "Adjustable desks that allow a sitting and standing option (sit-stand desks) could be a good first step, especially for very sedentary and unfit workers. But these aren't a complete solution as people don't expend much energy, or exert themselves, using them."  We would say it probably depends on the person.  There are folks who would sweat and get their heart rate up just by standing at their desk for a couple hours during the day, and the other articles we have posted have suggested a link between standing for a couple hours and a decreased risk of heart disease and cancer. 

But either way, he does admit that it is a good first step - perhaps a helpful way for folks to get started.  And it is crucial that this first step not be our only step; standing at our desks must not take the place of more vigorous exercise, or make us feel we have done our exercise and can now sit in front of the TV the rest of the day!

Perhaps even better for those who need the nudge into exercise would be a treadmill desk or bike desk, which don't only get us standing while we work but actually get us burning some serious calories.  If feasible at your workplace, one of these could be the perfect answer to the improvement of your health, even though you must spend long hours at the office.