Standing desks became popular during COVID when many of us started working from home.
They were thought to be the solution to the health problems caused by sitting for too long, like poor heart health, depression, and even dementia.
But, according to a recent study, standing desks might not be as helpful as we once believed, Parade reports.
The study, published in October 2024 in the International Journal of Epidemiology, looked at over 83,000 adults from the UK.
Researchers checked how long people sat and stood, and whether that was linked to major heart problems like heart disease and strokes.
Parade explains that they found standing doesn’t lower the risk of these problems, and standing for more than two hours a day could actually increase the risk of a different condition, orthostatic circulatory disease.
The disappointing part, as Parade highlights, is that standing desks aren’t the heart-healthy solution people thought. But there’s still good news! Moving around during the day could be even better for your health.
Parade suggests doing “exercise snacks,” which are small bursts of movement throughout the day. This could be as simple as walking the dog, taking the stairs, or dancing during a work break.
These mini workouts fit into your daily routine and don’t require a full hour at the gym, making them more practical.
While it’s a letdown that standing desks aren’t as great as we thought, Parade points out that the alternative—moving more throughout the day—might be even more fun and effective for staying healthy at work.
Credit : Parade
https://parade.com/health/home-office-setup-heart-attack-risk-october-2024-study?utm_source=pushly