Urban Health Myth: Standing Desks Superior to Sitting

"Standing is generally better than sitting."

"To improve your overall health and lower your risk of heart disease, you have to mix in actual movement."

Matthew N. Ahmadi, research fellow, University of Sydney, Australia

 

"What our research and other literature suggest is that both sitting and standing are part of the problem of physical inactivity."

"[Standing involves few muscular contractions and] muscular contraction is a necessary condition for any activity to maintain or improve health."

"[The supposed health benefits of standing over sitting have been] hugely exaggerated."

"Transitioning frequently from sitting to standing is a good idea, as there will be some muscular contractions while doing that."

Emmanuel Stamatakis, professor of physical activity, lifestyle and population health, University of Sydney

Photo: Harvard Health

Published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, a large new study of over 83,000 adults found that standing for over two  hours daily -- which many people with standing desks do -- offers no protection against the risks of too much sitting, for the cardiovascular system. Scientists at the University of Sydney and other colleagues used records of over 83,000 men and women from the U.K. Biobank study.

 

The researchers found that hours of standing presented their own problems which in the end still increased the likelihood of developing serious circulatory problems -- varicose veins, abnormally low blood pressure and blood clots -- in comparison to people who infrequently stood. A standing desk in and of itself does little to reverse the health risks inherent in sitting. Despite that researchers have been inspiring people to sit less based on studies indicating long hours in a chair contribute to greater risks of heart disease, vascular problems, joint pain, diabetes, obesity and other chronic health conditions.

As a result of public health authorities urging people to sit less, there has been a proliferation of workers using standing  desks as an alternative to sitting at their desks. According to recent epidemiological studies, many workers stand for three to four hours daily, yet little credible science supports standing; some of the studies in fact raise doubts about its effectiveness.

It was found that people who stand for an hour burned a mere nine calories more than than had they remained seated, according to a 2019 experiment; so much for warding off obesity. The most damaging impacts of sitting, however pose risks to the cardiovascular system. The Biobank records the researchers studied gave extensive data relating to lifestyles, health and daily habits along with a typical day's movements.

A sophisticated algorithm allowed the researchers to analyze movement patterns so the researchers could realize whether someone was sitting, standing or in motion through every waking minute of their days. The next step was to check medical databases in Britain to determine whether these same individuals had died from or been hospitalized for a cardiovascular problem in the seven years or so following their participation in the Biobank study.

 

Working in an office. (Pexels/Marc Mueller)

 

Movement patterns were cross-checked against medical outcomes, searching for links between sitting and standing and serious heart conditions such as heart disease, heart failure and stroke, or circulatory problems including venous ulcers, varicose veins and blood clots. People, it turned out, who sat for over ten hours daily -- most people -- were 13 percent more likely to develop serious heart problems in the intervening years than those who sat less. There was also a 26 percent higher risk for circulatory disorders. Standing for over two hours a day saw risks of circulatory problems rise by some 22 percent.

Risks for severe heart problems did not develop for those standing for more than two hours daily in comparison with people who stood less, but the risks did not diminish, either. As one stands, blood flows through legs at a sluggish rate and tends often to pool there, a potential contribution to circulatory disease. One's heart rate is barely raised; necessary to improve cardiovascular health. 

 

A solution to this conundrum is fairly simple; move about, both researchers advised. Make it a point to stroll about in brief breaks every half-hour; use the stairs, slip in some squats while remaining in place at one's desk. Sit down, stand  up, sit down and stand again.

 

Standing desks became a popular choice for people concerned about the effects of sitting all day but they might not have many advantages, a new study has found.

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