Are Standing Desks Harming Your Health? New Study Reveals Surprising Risks (Image Credits: iStock)
A study led by the University of Sydney revealed that standing for more than two hours per day may increase the risk of developing health problems such as deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins. The results and findings of the study were published in the International Journal of Epidemiology and the researchers analyzed the data from 83,013 adults who are part of the UK Biobank health records database. This research took place to establish that standing does not reduce the risk of diseases such as stroke and heart failure, despite the widely held belief that it does.
Dr Matthew Ahmadi, from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health, explained, “The key takeaway is that standing for extended periods will not counteract a sedentary lifestyle and could pose risks to circulatory health for some people. We found that standing more does not enhance long-term cardiovascular health and may even increase the risk of circulatory issues.” He further advised people who sit or stand for long periods to incorporate regular movement into their daily routine.
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, Director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub at the University of Sydney, recommended incorporating more physical activity into daily routines. “For people who sit for long periods on a regular basis, including plenty of incidental movement throughout the day and structured exercise may be a better way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Take regular breaks, walk around, go for a walking meeting, use the stairs, take regular breaks when driving long distances, or use that lunch hour to get away from the desk and do some movement,” he said.
Emily McGrath, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, who was not involved in the research, emphasized the importance of staying active during the workday. She said, “Avoiding long periods of inactivity is crucial. Although the study showed no direct link between standing time and cardiovascular disease, standing for prolonged periods did increase the risk of circulatory issues for some people. Staying active can help reduce these risks.”
The researchers tracked participants’ movement using wrist-worn devices and observed that for every additional 30 minutes spent standing beyond two hours, the risk of circulatory disease increased by 11 per cent. The study concluded that while standing alone does not reduce the risk of heart conditions like stroke or heart failure, incorporating movement and physical activity throughout the day is vital for maintaining circulatory health.
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