How Office Workers Can Benefit From Using Standing Desks

What's something that can be seriously bad for your health but is something we all do every day? Sitting. People who sit a lot have an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. It has also been linked to weight gain and obesity. This is a major problem for office workers, as they spend most of the day seated. By investing in a standing desk, your workers can reap the benefits.

1. Lowers your risk of weight gain & obesity
   Ultimately, you gain weight because you take in more calories than you burn. Conversely, burning more calories than you take in results in weight loss. Whilst exercise is the most effective way to burn calories, standing can burn up to 170 more calories than the same time spent seated.
2. Lowers blood sugar levels
   In general, the more your blood sugar levels increase after eating, the worse it is for your health. This is especially true for those with type 2 diabetes. Alternating between standing and sitting every 30 minutes throughout the day can reduce blood sugar spikes by around 11%.
3. Lowers your risk of heart disease
   It’s believed that sitting for an entire day is so harmful that even an hour of intense exercise may not make up for the negative effects. A study in 1953 found that bus conductors who stood all day had half the risk of heart disease related deaths than their colleagues in the driver’s seat.
4. Reduces back pain
   Back pain is one of the most common complaints of office workers who sit all day. Several studies have shown that standing can reduce upper back and neck pain in as little as 4 weeks. The removal of standing desks actually reversed some of these improvements in as little as 2 weeks.
5. Improves mood and energy levels
   Standing has a positive influence on our overall wellbeing. Those who use these desks tend to report less stress and fatigue, as well as increased vigor and energy throughout the day. It also lowers the risk of depression or anxiety, which have been linked with sedentary time.
6. Boosts productivity
   Although standing for a portion of each day may take some getting used to, it doesn’t appear to have any impact on typical work tasks. As standing is said to improve mood and energy, the use of these desks is more likely to boost our productivity levels rather than hinder them.
7. May help you to live longer
   Some studies have found a link between increased sitting time and early death. This is not all that surprising given the health problems we’ve discussed above. Although the studies don’t prove cause and effect, we cannot deny that standing could help lengthen or lifespan.

Reducing your sedentary time (in other words, not sitting as often) can improve your physical, metabolic and even your mental health. This is why sitting less and standing more is such an important lifestyle change, particularly for office workers. If you haven’t invested in standing desks for your workplace yet, it’s high time you do – you’ll see the benefits almost instantly.

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