Standing desks may not be any better for you than office chairs

Last week at Orgatec, many firms continued to repeat the claim that “sitting is the new smoking” in their marketing spiel. There’s something in this. The risks of a sedentary lifestyle include health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Standing desks have been seen as a way to reduce the time people spend sitting while at work as a fix for such health problems. But a new large scale study from researchers in Australia suggests that the use of standing desks does not have the impact claimed and that the risks of some conditions may even be worsened with their prolonged use. Instead people should look to move more, regardless of their workstation setup. 

The study of over 83,000 people published by academics at the University of Sydney in the National Library of Medicine journal suggests that prolonged standing may not enhance heart health and might even increase the risk of some circulatory issues. The researchers found that standing for long stretches did not reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and extended periods of both sitting and standing were linked to a greater risk of conditions like varicose veins and dizziness.

For the study, participants wore devices that tracked their sitting, standing, and physical activity over a number of years. The results showed that sitting for more than ten hours each day was linked to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Yet, simply standing more didn’t reduce the risk. Instead, prolonged standing was associated with a higher risk of circulatory problems.

The authors conclude that that merely replacing sitting with standing isn’t really the best solution. Our bodies benefit more from regular movement than from maintaining any one static position, whether sitting or standing. So incorporating short walks, stretching, or light exercises throughout the day can break up periods of inactivity and provide health benefits. The solution is a change in behaviour.

The market for standing desks has exploded in recent years and is now worth nearly £10 billion worldwide.