Sitting too much is disastrous for your health. Numerous studies have shown that too much sitting can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and early death. Thus, the need for a stand desk. Standing desks or adjustable furniture allow you to work at your station while standing rather than sitting in a chair. Research has shown that using a standing desk or furniture has various health benefits. Also, it has been suggested that standing while working improves your mood and mind.
Below are the health benefits of using a standing desk that is supported by science.
Improve cardiovascular health
A study conducted in 1953 found that bus conductors who stand most of the day had half the risk of heart-related deaths compared to bus drivers who sit all day. In recent years, scientists have had a much better understanding of the effects of sitting on heart health. Recent findings suggest sedentary lifestyles result in an increase in the risk of hard disease to up to 147% compared to an active lifestyle. Sitting is so harmful that even an hours’ worth of intense work out will not make up for the adverse effects it causes.
Lowers weight gain and obesity
Studies have shown burning more calories than you take in is a way or losing weight. Conventionally, exercise is the best way to burn calories. However, simply choosing to stand rather than sit down is an excellent way of burning some calories. To prove this, a study conducted in 2014 found that standing burns over 170 additional calories when compared to an equal amount of time spent doing sedentary work. Thus, standing at your desk when doing your office work burns extra calories when compared to sitting. If weight loss is a significant priority to your team members, then standing furniture might be better suited for their needs.
Reduce back pain
Back pain has been a significant complaint of every office worker who sits all day. This is because too much sitting reduces the benefits of exercise. When you sit for long, you are guaranteed poor posture, which can compress spinal disks and lead to premature disc degeneration. To determine how standing desk help, studies have been conducted on employees with long-term back pain. The participants reported an improvement in lower back pain after several weeks of using standing desks.
Lower blood sugar level
The more your sugar levels increase after meals, the worse it is for your health, especially if you have insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. A study conducted on ten workers found that standing for 3 hours after a meal reduced the blood sugar spike by 43% compared to sitting. Another study involving 20 office workers found that alternating between standing and sitting every 30 minutes reduces blood sugar spikes by 11.1%.
Conclusion
The medical research is clear. Using standing furniture plays a vital role in fostering your employee’s wellbeing. They reduce sedentary time and improve physical, metabolic, and even mental health. This is why it is advisable to get a standing desk and chairs for your office.