CINCINNATI (WKRC/CNN Newsource) – New research suggests that switching to a standing desk might not be the best way to prevent issues caused by prolonged sitting.
Standing desks were born out of the growing interest in decreasing the amount of time that people were sitting down for.
But could imply that standing desks aren’t as great of a solution as initially believed.
The first studies that came out about standing desks were largely positive toward the lifestyle change, but recent multi-year-long research suggests something different.
The research suggests it’s not the position you’re in that’s the problem, but the lack of movement.
CINCINNATI (WKRC/CNN Newsource) – According to new research, avoiding problems brought on by extended sitting may not be best achieved by switching to a standing desk.
As people’s desire to spend less time sitting down grew, standing desks were created. Obesity and cardiovascular disorders are among the health problems that have been linked to prolonged sitting.
However, it might suggest that standing desks aren’t as good of a solution as first thought.
Early research on standing desks was generally supportive of the lifestyle shift, but more recent studies spanning several years point to a different conclusion.
While standing doesn’t actually prevent heart disease or stroke, the study did find that sitting for more than ten hours a day may raise one’s risk of developing these conditions. Long periods of standing, on the other hand, may cause circulatory problems of their own.
More precisely, prolonged standing can result in blood accumulating in the legs, which can cause problems like varicose veins.
What is the answer, then? According to the research, the issue is not your position but rather your inaction. Taking short walks throughout the day, or at least getting up and moving around to stretch your legs (ideally at least once every 30 minutes), could have a greater impact than switching from a seated desk to a standing one.
The researchers think that alternating between standing and sitting could also be a good option if you’re determined to remain in one place for an extended period of time.
The study’s average participant age was 61, and since the findings were purely observational, cause and effect cannot be guaranteed. However, the sample size was substantial (more than 83,000), which gives the study legitimacy.
