Standing desks can be bad for your health – here’s why

Standing desk fans may want to sit down for this news.

A new study finds that long-term standing does not improve cardiovascular health compared to sitting, and may actually increase the risk of circulatory problems such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.

“The bottom line is that standing for long periods of time will not compensate for a sedentary lifestyle and may be dangerous for some people in terms of circulatory health,” said study lead author Matthew Ahmadi from University of Sydney in Australia.

Ahmadi’s team followed 83,000 UK adults without heart disease at the start of the study for seven to eight years. The researchers monitored the incidence of heart disease and collected data on circulatory diseases from smartwatch-like devices that participants wore on their wrists.

The authors noted that the study focused on the effects of standing for long periods of time, but not explicitly on using a standing desk.

The researchers found no health benefits to standing more — but before sitting down, the team also determined that sitting for more than 10 hours a day increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure. that happens when you stand up. after sitting or lying down.

“For people who sit for long periods on a regular basis, including lots of casual movement throughout the day and structured exercise may be a better way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,” said University of Sydney Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis. .

Over the summer, Stamatakis and Ahmadi reported that just six minutes of vigorous exercise a day or half an hour of moderate to vigorous exercise can help reduce the risk of heart disease even in people who don’t move much for half a day or longer. .

“Take regular breaks, walk around, go for a walking date, use the stairs, take regular breaks when driving long distances or use that lunch hour to get away from your desk and get some exercise,” she advised. Stamatakis.

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans say adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle strengthening per week.

The new study findings, published Wednesday in the International Journal of Epidemiology, follow an August report that predicted the value of the global desk market will grow from $7.8 billion to $12.6 billion in 2032.

Much of the growth is being driven by innovations in Germany and China, where “traditional” office spaces are being transformed into “more modern, flexible environments”.