Sitting down all day has been dubbed as the new smoking. A sedentary lifestyle is linked to a wide range of health complications including increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Health guidelines state that we should spend at least 150 minutes per week doing moderate exercise. However, in a typical office environment, you can spend up to 7 hours sat down (and that’s not even including the time sat down in the car!)
According to research published in the British Medical Journal, switching to a sit-stand desk could boost productivity and health. The study carried out by the University of Leicester followed 146 NHS staff members who previously spent most of their day sitting at a desk. Key findings showed that 43% of people who swapped their usual desk for a sit-stand desk reported their performance had improved. Furthermore, 52% of employees using these desks felt more engaged at work.
Below, we explore the top benefits of using a standing desk in the workplace.
An international study found that more than 1,000 men and women standing for six hours per day burned 54 calories more resulting in significant weight loss. This means you could burn at least 270 calories more in a typical work week if you were standing!
Whilst standing you are using some of the largest muscles in your body which increases blood flow to the brain. Because of this, it improves the way people feel and work potentially increasing productivity by 10-20%.
These desks have been linked to boosted levels in overall happiness and morale.
In various studies, the use of standing desks increased enthusiasm and energy by 87% and when employees returned to their original work stations, overall mood went back to original levels.
Sitting down for long periods of time every day has been linked to an increased risk to a wide range of health implications including diabetes and heart disease. Scientists discovered that prolonged sedentary time increased the risk of heart disease by up to 147%. Not only this, studies have shown that those who sit down for long periods of time are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
Unsurprisingly with the strong link between sitting down for prolonged periods of time and illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, research has found a connection between increased sitting time and a shorter life.
A study has shown that by reducing your sitting time for 3 hours per day, you could increase your life expectancy by 2 years.
Overall, sit-stand desks are great for boosted productivity, happiness and overall heath. For help on incorporating standing desks in your workplace, get in touch with us today.
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