We have already often heard that living sedentary lives have caused us so many health problems that if we continue to sit for extended periods of time every day, we might just find ourselves slowly killing ourselves.
Dr. James Levine, co-director of the Mayo Clinic and the Arizona State University Obesity Initiative, even stated how sitting has become more sinister than smoking, HIV, or even parachuting. He exaggerates but the point he was trying to make is that we need to spend more time expending energy on non-exercise activities, which are those light, physical activities that can help our bodies get moving while at work.
Standing up, walking around, and doing house chores are some of the activities in which we can engage so that we don't spend most of our days just sitting on a chair.
A few suggestions for workstations include the treadmill desk, allowing employees to exercise and work at the same time. Granted, it's an expensive investment at $4,000 for burning a few calories daily, so it may not be the most practical solution. A cheaper alternative would be the standing desks which is slightly better than sitting.
In a research conducted by researchers from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Texas A&M university, they looked at different workstations — height-adjustable workstations, sit-stand workstations, fixed stand-based workstations, and traditional desks — and how they affect work performance, physical activity, and discomfort.
From the study, they found no significant different in productivity, no differences in energy expenditure, step count, or step time per day, and 65% of all participants reporting neck discomfort with 80% of those using traditional desks reporting lower back pain.
Despite the results showing no significant differences, researchers continue to believe the further studies on standing desks can lead to potential benefits.
At the end of the day, one thing is certain. We need to keep our bodies physically active to stay healthy. It's more than just simply changing the type of furniture that we use at work. It's a lifestyle and a paradigm shift that we need to consciously put in effort to get benefits and see future results. - via Real Clear Science
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