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Four Health Benefits of Standing Desks

People seem to talk about their fitness levels more than ever nowadays, and people are becoming increasingly worried about the negative ways in which sitting down at a desk all day can affect their health and wellbeing. People used to think that only laborious jobs resulted in injuries, but we now know that prolonged sitting can result in back pain, obesity and eye strain to new a few. To try and avoid these problems, many offices are now installing standing desks for their employees, and there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that’s a good idea.

Though the standing desk in NZ is still in its relatively early stages, research suggests it can be beneficial for your health in many different ways, from weight loss to an improved posture. Of course, you’ll still need to provide places for your employees to sit down from time to time as standing for hours on end is likely to become tiring, but you might be making a good choice in terms of your employees’ health if you have them work at standing desks. Below, this article details four of the main health benefits of using standing desks in the workplace.

Are Standing Desks the Future?

There are lots of reasons why standing desks are becoming increasingly popular, and most of them revolve around your health. Here are four compelling reasons why you might want to make the switch to standing desks:

  • Standing Desks Reduce the Risk of Obesity

The most effective way to lose weight and keep it at a healthy level is to maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly, but studies have shown that standing at work instead of sitting can help you burn an extra 170 calories per day.

  • Lower Blood Sugar Levels

In most cases, the less your blood sugar levels increase following a meal, the more healthy you are because high blood sugar levels can be dangerous for those with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance. However, it has been shown that standing rather than sitting after lunch for 180 minutes can reduce the blood sugar level spike by 43 percent.

  • Standing Can Lower the Risk of Heart Disease

The idea that standing is more beneficial than sitting has been around since 1953 when a study found that bus conductors who stood up all day were half as likely to die from something related to heart disease than bus drivers. So, standing up rather than sitting at work may even add some years onto your life.

  • Reduced Back Pain

Back pain is among the most common complaints in the office, though studies have shown that standing desks may alleviate the pain. In fact, one study has shown that participants reported a sharp improved in their pain after using standing desks for several weeks.

Is Now the Time to Switch?

While there are countless studies still underway to determine the health benefits of standing desks in detail, it seems standing desks may be significantly more beneficial for your health than sitting desks at this time. Plus, if you’re still unsure, you could always buy a height-adjustable desk so that you have the option to either sit or stand.