These days, we’re a lot more aware of how the things we do impact on our health. One of the causes of rising obesity is having a sedentary lifestyle. So if you spend most of your say sitting at a desk, it could be time to rethink your work strategy. People who sit for extended periods every day are at a greater risk of a host of medical problems such as heart disease and diabetes as well as obesity, however, standing desks are becoming a more popular choice to try to alleviate these issues.
What Exactly Is A Standing Desk?
As you might guess from its name, a standing desk is one that enables you to stand comfortably as you work. There are several different versions out there, including ones that are adjustable and ones that enable you to alternative between standing and sitting to suit your needs.
What Are The Benefits Of Standing Desks?
At the moment, research is in its earliest stages, however, already there appears to be evidence that using standing desks could offer a number of benefits. These include:
- A lower risk of obesity and weight gain. Compared with an afternoon of sitting to work, the same length of time spent standing up burns more than 170 extra calories.
- Lower blood sugar levels. A study has shown that if you stand up for 180 minutes after you’ve eaten lunch, your blood sugar levels will be 43% lower than if you were sitting for 180 minutes after eating.
- Lower chance of developing heart disease. Studies dating back to the 1950s have shown that those who stand for longer periods have a 147% lower risk of developing heart disease.
- Reduced back pain. Many workers sitting down all day long suffer from back pain. A study showed that those who used a standing desk for several weeks experienced an improvement of up to 32% in their lower back pain.
- Better energy levels and improved mood. People who use a standing desk experience less fatigue and stress than people who sit all through their workday.
- Boosted productivity. Evidence has shown that standing desks have no major impact on work tasks and could even make you more productive since you’ll feel less tired and more positive.
- Extended lifespan. Studies have revealed that there’s a link between sedentary lifestyles and dying early. People who sit for long periods are almost 50% more likely to die early than those sitting for the shortest periods of time.