Standing desks are also thought to help fight obesity, which is another benefit. In this way, scientists have agreed on something. Even though a standing desk plan is sold as a miracle cure for obesity, it doesn’t burn any more calories than sitting down. You might lose a few pounds a year, but it won’t make much of a difference from week to week.
Standing, on the other hand, burns only a few more calories per hour than sitting—about 88 calories per hour compared to 80 calories per hour. This small increase is not likely to help you reach your goals for weight loss or weight maintenance.
The most important benefit of using a standing desk is that it makes it less likely that you will get sick. Studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time can cause obesity, heart disease, certain cancers, shoulder pain, back pain, diabetes, and an early death. Working at a standing desk every day will make it less likely that you will get these problems. Humans are made to stand up and walk, and sitting for eight hours or more every day isn’t good for our bodies.
Even though the current study says that using a standing desk is not likely to help you lose weight or keep you from gaining weight, there may be other benefits to standing while you work. Standing desk supporters point to studies that show that a person’s blood sugar levels return to normal more quickly after a meal on days when they spend more time standing. Also, standing instead of sitting might make back and shoulder pain less common.
We know that sitting for a long time hurts your back and gives you back pain. When you go from standing to sitting, you put more stress on your disks. Because of this, if you sit for a long time, your disks are more likely to stick out (especially when you remain in one position throughout the day). This is because when the disk is in the same position for a long time, it loses some of its water. No one needs to tell you that sitting all day is bad for your back. Even though standing is better than sitting, sitting all day is bad for your back too.
Because our brains work more slowly when we are still, we become less productive over time. When you move from standing to sitting, on the other hand, your major muscles contract, which increases blood flow to your brain. When employees use sit-stand workstations, they often say they feel more energized and less tired, which lets them do more work.
Is it worth it to buy a desk that lets you sit or stand?
Standing is a little better than sitting because the low back and hips don’t bend forward as much. However, standing puts more pressure on the knees, ankles, and feet and makes you tired. So, standing for a long time isn’t any healthier than sitting for a long time.
Should you stand at your desk or sit?
Professionals have long said that people should stand at their desks for about 15 minutes per hour instead of sitting all day. But a professor at the University of Waterloo says that his research shows that people should stand for at least 30 minutes per hour to get the health benefits.
What do standing desks have against them?
What’s Bad About Standing Desks It can be tiring to stand for long periods of time, especially if you don’t have shoes or insoles that support your feet. After a few hours, your feet may start to hurt, and you may have to stand on both legs to stay balanced.
How long should you stand at your standing desk?
Even though there are new studies, many ergonomic experts still say that people who use a standing desk should stand for 5 to 15 minutes every hour. One study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that it is best to move around, stand up, and take breaks from sitting for at least two hours during an eight-hour workday.
Do standing desks help you get stronger?
It’s better for your back to stand than to sit. Leg muscles get stronger and your balance gets better. It burns more calories than sitting still. It also does a great job of stopping blood from clotting deep in the legs.
When using a standing desk, how often should you get up?
That means you should stand for an hour for every one to two hours you sit at your office. Every 30 to 60 minutes, switch between sitting and standing.
Do standing desks help you lose weight?
One study found that standing alone burns about 8 calories more per hour than sitting. This makes it hard to lose weight.
Is it healthy to stand all day at work?
Standing is a natural position for humans, and it doesn’t pose any health risks on its own. On the other hand, standing for long periods of time at work can lead to a number of health problems, such as sore feet, swollen legs, varicose veins, general muscle fatigue, back pain, stiffness in the neck and shoulders, and more.
How do I stand most comfortably at a standing desk?
Stand tall with straight hips and a “S”-shaped spine. Use a good chair, keep your pelvis supported, and bend your knees to 90 degrees for good ergonomics. Raise the screen until it’s level with your eyes.
Can sitting-to-stand desks hurt your back?
A study from the University of Waterloo found that almost half of the people who use standing desks are likely to get lower back pain. The study looked at 40 people, half of whom were men and half of whom were women, who had never had back problems before. According to the study, 40% of the people who took part in it had low back pain after standing for two hours.
How long is too long to stand?
A sedentary lifestyle means that you sit down for more than four hours a day. Included are adults who work out regularly after work. After just an hour of sitting still for a long time, blood starts to build up in the legs. If you stand for more than four hours a day, your health is at risk.