LONDON: A health warning has been issued to users of standing desks, a popular office setup believed to mitigate the health risks of prolonged sitting, according to the Independent. Recent research indicates that standing desks do not effectively reduce health risks such as stroke and heart failure, and may even increase the risk of conditions like swollen veins and blood clots.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, a study involving over 80,000 UK adults found that standing for more than two hours a day could elevate the risk of deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins. The research, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, suggests that individuals who are sedentary or stand for prolonged periods should incorporate regular movement into their routines.
Dr. Matthew Ahmadi from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health stated, “The key takeaway is that standing for too long will not offset an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people in terms of circ
ulatory health.” The study determined that standing does not enhance cardiovascular health over time and may contribute to circulatory issues.
Previous investigations by Dr. Ahmadi and his team revealed that vigorous exercise for six minutes daily can reduce heart disease risk, even for those sitting more than 11 hours a day. The recent study analyzed data from 83,013 adults within the UK Biobank, a comprehensive health and lifestyle database.
Findings indicated that standing did not lower the risk of heart conditions such as stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease. Additionally, sitting for more than 12 hours daily was linked to a 15% increased risk of heart disease for each additional hour.
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub at the University of Sydney, advised, “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 cardiovas
cular disease.”
Emily McGrath, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, commented on the study, emphasizing the importance of regular activity during the day to mitigate health risks associated with prolonged standing and sitting.