Anyone who uses a standing desk for work is being warned that the popular devices may not be as beneficial to your health as you might think.
Standing desks have been marketed as a way to burn calories and improve your posture – a way to mitigate the health risks of sitting down all day. Studies have found that prolonged sitting or other sedentary behavior can lead to diabetes, poor heart health, weight gain, depression, dementia, and cancer.
However, The Independent reports that scientists have now warned that the desks do not compensate for being inactive and in fact they might actually increase the chance of developing serious or unsightly conditions – such as swollen veins, blood clots in the legs, as well as leading to an increased risk of heart disease.
Research carried out by the International Journal of Epidemiology has found that standing motionless for long periods is harmful, and the researchers went on to explain that any people who sit or stand for long periods should make sure they schedule regular movement throughout the day.
The new study of more than 80,000 UK adults found that standing does not reduce the risk of diseases such as stroke and heart failure after all, despite previous research suggesting it was beneficial.
Scientists used data from 83,013 adults who are part of the UK Biobank, a database which holds health and lifestyle records of more than half-a-million Brits. They discovered that being on your feet for more than two hours a day could put people at higher risk of developing lower leg problems such as deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins.
Dr Matthew Ahmadi, of the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health in Australia, said: “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 circulatory health.
“We found that standing more does not improve cardiovascular health over the long-term and increases the risk of circulatory issues.”
A circulatory disorder is any condition that affects the heart, blood vessels or the blood, according to The British Heart Foundation. They include coronary artery disease, hypertension and stroke.
The study discovered the shocking fact that for every extra 30 minutes spent standing beyond two hours, the risk of circulatory disease increased by 11 percent.
Sitting was also dangerous, with the findings showing that sitting for more than 12 hours a day is associated with a 15 percent increase in heart disease risk for each extra hour of sitting.
Commenting on the study, Emily McGrath, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, told The Independent: “This research emphasises the importance of getting up and active during the day.
“The more people can avoid being stationary, the better.”
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub at the University of Sydney, advised: “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.”
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