Images and infographics courtesy of http://www.juststand.org
While the idea of standing rather than sitting while you work has been around for a while, particularly in America, it’s gained more popularity in the UK over the last few years. So, what’s all the fuss about and should you consider it for your office – if you haven’t already?
There is plenty of evidence-based information about how sitting down for long periods is linked to a range of health problems. These include dry eyes, carpal tunnel syndrome and back and shoulder ailments resulting from bad posture while at your desk. Did you also know that it can lower your metabolism, encouraging fat storage and therefore weight gain?
Most worryingly of all, studies have linked it to a reduction in life expectancy, by increasing your risk of diseases such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Just search online for the health risks of sitting if you need more convincing.
Modern lifestyles are increasingly making it easier for us to be sedentary for much of the time. A typical workday for many will involve:
But surely if you are energetic outside of the office that will help, right? Yes, being more physically active is a great way to improve your fitness, help you to maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of a range of health problems. However, given the number of
As sitting is bad for you, some have advocated standing at work. This idea is not new - apparently, the likes of Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway worked while standing up. So could this be the solution? Several studies, including one conducted at the University of Chester, found that standing instead of sitting increases your heart rate and the number of calories you burn. Many workers state that they have more concentration and feel more energetic standing up too.
However, like sitting, there are negative effects to standing for hours at a time. It can be more tiring, particularly for your feet and legs, but it may also increase your risk of developing varicose veins and hardening in your arteries.
Perhaps the main point to take away is that both sitting and standing can be bad for your health if you do either exclusively for long periods of time. Ideally, you should aim for a mixture of sitting and standing, but depending on the work you do, that might be an impossible task. So what can you do while at work?