In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion regarding the health risks of extended sitting. Studies regularly reveal that sitting too much is bad for our health, associating it with illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and early mortality. The modern workplace, in which many people spend the majority of their time seated, exacerbates these hazards. Fortunately, the rise of standing desks represents a viable answer to this rising problem.
Comprehending the Standing Desk
The purpose of a standing desk, also called a stand-up desk, is to enable users to work comfortably while standing. Thanks to the adjustable height of many modern models, users can switch between sitting and standing at their desks. These multipurpose workstations are sometimes referred to as sit-stands or height-adjustable desks.
Preliminary results indicate that using a standing desk can improve productivity and greatly improve one’s health, even though the study is still in its early phases. A standing desk can, at the least, lessen the negative consequences of extended sitting.
Here, we examine the seven advantages of standing desks that have been scientifically proven, and we also discuss how adding one to your workstation might have a revolutionary effect on your well-being and productivity.
1. Standing Lowers the Chance of Gaining Weight and Being Obese
When calories are taken in greater than calories expended, weight gain results. The best approach to burn calories is to exercise, but standing up instead of sitting down can also help burn a lot more calories.
Studies reveal that standing for an afternoon equals over 170 extra calories burned over sitting for the same amount of time. The extra calories you burn from merely standing at your computer in the afternoons add up to about 1,000 every week. Long periods of sitting are strongly associated with obesity and metabolic problems, which is probably due to this caloric disparity.
2. Blood Sugar Levels May Be Reduced by Standing Desks
After meals, blood sugar usually rises, but persistently high blood sugar can be harmful, particularly for those with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
Standing for 180 minutes after lunch decreased the post-meal blood sugar surge by 43% when compared to sitting for the same amount of time, according to small research involving 10 office workers. Crucially, neither group walked more than the other, indicating that standing rather than increased exercise was the cause of the lower blood sugar spike.
An additional study including twenty-three office workers discovered that a 30-minute shift between sitting and standing during the workday averaged an 11.1% reduction in blood sugar rises. These results highlight the negative impacts of sitting after meals and provide some insight into the association between an excessive amount of sedentary time and a 112% increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
3. Standing May Decrease the Risk of Heart Disease
The idea that standing improves heart health dates back to 1953 when research revealed that bus conductors who stood the whole shift had a 50% lower risk of dying from heart disease than their seated counterparts. Subsequent studies have verified that extended periods of sitting considerably increase the chance of developing heart disease. Long periods of inactivity are thought to raise the risk of heart disease by as much as 147%.
Unbelievably, the detrimental effects of a full day of sitting may not be entirely countered by even an hour of vigorous activity. Therefore, increasing the amount of time you spend standing each day is essential for heart health maintenance.
4. Back Pain is Alleviated by Standing Desks
When working long hours at an office, back pain is a common complaint. Whether standing desks can help with this problem has been the subject of numerous studies.
After using standing workstations for many weeks, the lower back pain of study participants improved by up to 32%. In just four weeks, sit-stand desks were found to lessen neck and upper back discomfort by 54%, according to another CDC study. Nevertheless, within two weeks of the standing desks being removed, some of these gains were undone. These findings imply that using standing desks regularly is necessary for long-term pain management.
5. Standing Desks Boost Vitality and Mood
It has been demonstrated that standing workstations improve general well-being. In a seven-week study, those who used standing workstations said they felt less stressed and exhausted than people who sat down all day. Furthermore, 87% of users of standing desks reported feeling more energized and vigorous.
Participants’ emotions returned to baseline when they went back to their old desks, suggesting that standing desks are essential for sustaining these advantages. These results are consistent with a larger body of research that links sedentary behavior to a higher risk of anxiety and depression.
6. Standing Workstations Could Increase Output
One recurring question about standing workstations is if they make it harder to do everyday chores like typing. Although there may be a learning curve initially, research indicates that standing workstations have little effect on productivity.
Using a standing workstation for four hours a day did not affect typing accuracy or speed in research with sixty young office workers. Considering that standing can boost energy and mood, standing desks are probably going to increase productivity rather than decrease it.
7. Standing Up More May Increase Your Lifespan
There is compelling data that links prolonged sitting to a higher risk of dying young. The link between sedentary activity and diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease is probably the cause of this correlation. According to an analysis of eighteen studies, those who sit the most are 49% more likely to die young than people who sit the least.
Another study calculated that the typical American’s life expectancy might be increased by two years by cutting down on sitting to three hours a day. These observational studies imply that standing more often may be associated with a longer, healthier life, even though they do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.
Making a Decision: The Way Ahead
Your physical, metabolic, and mental health can all be considerably enhanced by cutting back on your time spent sitting down and increasing your standing throughout the day. Standing desks are an excellent addition to any workstation, as demonstrated by the abundant data
Sit-stand desks are available from a lot of office furniture dealers and internet sites if you’re interested in enjoying these advantages. It is advised that individuals who are new to standing desks increase their standing time gradually, aiming for a 50/50 ratio between standing and sitting.
Setting the Standard for Standing Desk Solutions: AFC Industries
As we’ve seen, there are several advantages to standing workstations, including a lower chance of developing major illnesses, increased productivity, and improved general health. Adding standing desks to your workstation can have a major positive impact on your productivity and health given the strong evidence in favor of their use.
AFC Industries is the leading producer in the US when it comes to choosing the greatest standing desk. AFC Industries, a company renowned for its dedication to quality and innovation, provides a broad selection of ergonomic solutions to satisfy the demands of contemporary office workers. You can benefit from a healthier, more active workday for years to come thanks to the accuracy and durability with which our standing desks are built.
Select AFC Industries for your standing desk requirements to start living a better, more productive life.