Standing Versus Sitting: In The Workplace, A Bit More Is Better For Your Health

Much of the workforce might be sitting glued to a computer, but that's dangerous news for our health.

A new study emphasizes how standing is the way of the future. Not only can it improve our blood sugar, fats in the blood and lower cholesterol levels, but taking a walk to the coffee pot or around the office may help, too, to lower your body mass index (BMI) instead of searching the web during a work break.

In the latest research, scientists examined 782 participants between the ages of 36 and 80 who were taking part in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study and given activity monitors. The monitors accurately tracked how long each participant spent sleeping, sitting or lying down, standing and stepping (including walking and running, too.)

After giving blood samples and measurement of their blood pressure, weight, height and waist circumference, participants each wore an activity monitor on their thigh for about 24 hours a day over a seven-day period. Then, researchers used a statistical technique known as isotemporal analysis to estimate the potential impact on health of reallocating time from sitting to standing or stepping.

Findings revealed that replacing two hours a day of sitting with stepping was linked to a 11 percent lower average BMI and a 7.5 cm smaller average waist circumference.

Furthermore, they also discovered that blood sugar levels fell by about 11 percent and average triglycerides were lowered by about 14 percent every two hours spent walking rather than sitting, with HDL cholesterol, otherwise known as our good cholesterol, 0.10 mol/L higher. However, there was no significant difference on BMI or waistline when it came to sitting versus standing.

"These findings provide important preliminary evidence that strategies to increase the amount of time spent standing or walking rather than sitting may benefit the heart and metabolism of many people," said lead study author Dr Genevieve Healy, senior research fellow at the University of Queensland, Australia, in a news release. "Get up for your heart health and move for your waistline.

This has important public health implications, given that standing is a common behaviour that usually replaces sitting, and that can be encouraged in the workplace with interventions such as sit-stand desks."

However, it is important to say that not all sitting is bad; but if people can incorporate alternatives to sitting wherever possible, it may benefit their heart and metabolic health."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the European Heart Journal. 

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