## Standing Desks Don’t Cut It: New Study Shows Movement Is Key to Heart Health
The standing desk craze has been a popular trend, promising better health by reducing sitting time. But a major new study throws cold water on this idea, suggesting that standing desks may not be the magic bullet for improving cardiovascular health. While prolonged sitting is detrimental, the study reveals that standing for extended periods doesn’t offer significant advantages. The key takeaway? It’s not about standing or sitting, it’s about moving.
This groundbreaking study, conducted by the University of Sydney and involving over 83,000 adults, analyzed the link between stationary behavior and cardiovascular health over a period of seven years. The results, published in the journal ‘Circulation,’ reveal some surprising findings.
The study confirmed the long-held belief that sitting for extended periods is harmful. Participants who spent over 10 hours a day sitting were found to be 13% more likely to develop serious heart problems and 26% more likely to develop circulatory disorders. However, the researchers discovered that standing for part of the day didn’t significantly improve these risks.
Participants who stood for over two hours a day actually had an 11% increased risk of circulatory problems, while those who stood for two hours experienced no reduction in their risk of severe heart problems compared to those who sat for 10 hours or more. Essentially, there was no meaningful difference in heart health outcomes between those who sat all day and those who mixed sitting with standing.
Lead researcher Matthew N. Ahmadi, a research fellow at the University of Sydney, emphasizes that “there was no improvement” in heart health associated with standing. He further states, “What our research and other literature suggest is that both sitting and standing are part of the problem of physical inactivity.” This means both are sides of the same sedentary coin, with similar negative impacts on cardiovascular health, despite some differences between them.
So what should you do? The study’s authors are clear: You need to move! Ahmadi recommends getting up from your desk every hour, or even more frequently, and going for a short walk. Even walking around your house or taking the stairs can make a difference. This movement is crucial for your heart health and for breaking up the sedentary habits that can lead to cardiovascular issues.
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, who oversaw the study, explains that “muscular contraction is a necessary condition for any activity to maintain or improve health.” Standing, he notes, doesn’t involve much muscular contraction, and can even lead to blood pooling in your legs, potentially causing problems of its own. This underscores why spending the entire day standing isn’t recommended.
The study’s findings have significant implications for how we approach workplace health. It suggests that simply switching to a standing desk might not be enough to improve cardiovascular health. Instead, the focus should be on encouraging regular movement throughout the day, through walking, stretching, or even just getting up and moving around for a few minutes every hour. This proactive approach can help mitigate the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle and contribute to overall well-being.
So, while standing desks can offer some benefits, such as improved posture and reduced fatigue, they should not be seen as a substitute for regular physical activity. The key to better heart health lies in getting up and moving, whether it’s a quick walk, a short workout, or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
