Sitting too much is bad for your health, increasing your risk of weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Furthermore, often neck, shoulder, back, and headaches can arise from prolonged sitting in poor posture.
To combat this, standing desks are becoming increasingly popular. A stand-up desk is a desk that allows you to stand up whilst working. Height-adjustable desks are also available so that you can alternate between sitting and standing.
Research on stand-up desks are still in the early stages, however so far it appears that it can have great benefits for health and also increasing productivity. When you are standing, the body has to recruit more muscles to hold you upright against gravity, thus requiring more effort and an increase in calorie use. (Yes, you are burning more calories when standing).
It’s important to note that prolonged standing can also have adverse health effects, such as swelling and cramping in the legs. One should also still be aware of posture when standing, keeping the feet hip distance apart, avoid leaning on one leg, or slouching. Other ways to increase how much you stand include: standing on public transport, when taking a phone call, during meetings, and in social environments.
The key points to take aware are: stand up, sit less, and MOVE more!