In years past a standing desk was unheard of. But when most of our leisure time is now spent sitting down rather than in the outside world it is understandable why we want to get up and off our butts whenever we can! Sitting too much is bad for your health in more ways than one. It can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and many other health problems that can ultimately result in early death. Sitting for extended periods of time also burns much fewer calories than standing, so you are already at a disadvantage. This can lead to obesity and weight gain.
A standing desk, or a stand-up desk, is one that allows you to up in a comfortable manner while you are at your workplace. Some standing desks are adjustable in height so that you can make it perfect for you and your personal attributes. This can also mean that you are able to alternate between standing and sitting throughout the day as it suits you. You may also hear them called height-adjustable, or sit-stand desks.
As it is still a new trend, the research s in the early stages, however, it is thought that a standing desk does have some impressive health benefits and leads to increased productivity.
There are several main benefits to a sit stand desk, the first of course is a decreased risk of obesity. The added calories burned from sitting rather than standing during the workday minimizes weight gain and decreases your chances of becoming obese. It is not recommended to over-exercise as a method of weight loss of course, but choosing to stand rather than sit can be beneficial to your health and wellbeing.
It can reduce your blood sugar levels. A recent study focusing on 10 office workers showed that standing for three hours after eating decreased the blood sugar spike by around 43% in comparison to sitting for the same time period.
Along with the myriad of health benefits, standing can also lower your risk of heart disease. Prolonged sedentary time does increase your risk of heart disease so standing can decrease this risk by up to 147%!
Standing desks can also reduce back pain and improve your posture. After several weeks of using the standing desk, test subjects noticed a lowering in their initial back pain. Along with this, standing desks are also known to improve your mood and energy levels.
The main concern in an office setting is that standing desks can hinder productivity by making daily tasks more difficult, like typing. But studies have found that they do quite the opposite. They have little to no impact on your work and can even increase your productivity.
All in all, using a standing desk regularly and for long periods of time can help you to live longer. As mentioned it reduces the risks of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, and overall improves your wellbeing. Why not give it a try? You will be amazed by the difference!
