A recent study raising doubts about the supposed health benefits of standing desks. Scientists investigating the association of desk work time with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among 83,013 UK adults did not find that CVD risk was reduced by sitting work time . Over nearly seven years of study, the study found that prolonged standing itself could cause health problems such as varicose veins, hypotension and blood clots.
The authors of the study decided to conduct a large-scale study because previous scientific data on this issue was limited and contradictory. Unlike marketers who actively promote standing desks as a “healthy” and “ergonomic” alternative, the scientific evidence on this point has been inconclusive.
It’s logical to think that changing your posture can benefit your health, but replacing sitting with standing did not produce significant results in improving well-being in more than 83,000 participants. Therefore, simply using a standing desk has little effect on reducing health risks.
The study, however, emphasizes that when working in a quiet position, it is important to consider more than just a static position (sitting or standing). Researchers have concluded that investing in height-adjustable desks may be a waste if the underlying cause is lack of mobility. Those who spend a lot of time at a desk just need to move more.
The “Move More” method comes at no additional cost and is available to everyone, regardless of the type of desktop. Regular light physical activity – such as short walks, climbing stairs, or simply alternating between sitting and standing every half hour – can significantly reduce the negative effects of prolonged desk work.
“Standing alone doesn’t reduce the risk” of developing CVD or other problems associated with prolonged sitting, Ahmadi says. “But it doesn’t increase them, which is good.” Therefore, setting a reminder to move regularly will be healthier than an expensive standing desk.
2024-11-11 10:30:00
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