We’ve all seen it. That familiar trope of the highly successful business person fielding emails and calls while standing at a raised desk. It conjures several thoughts, both positive and negative, to most; that the work-stander is a world champion multi-tasker with an almost divine ability to engage in physical activity while also focusing on work tasks, that their time is so precious that they must marry work with exercise, and possibly that they are engaging in tacit one-upmanship with their colleagues.
Regardless of what most of us think about those who prefer to stand while working, does this practice provide tangible physical benefits, and if so, what are they?
An increasing number of office workers are now spending more and more time sitting at a desk
An increasing number of office workers are now spending more and more time sitting at a desk, on a computer chair, or crouched over a laptop, and it is no surprise that blame can be attributed to the Pandemic for this. Working from home has eliminated the daily commute, which restricts the working day’s beginning and end for many. Coupled with the fact that without the ever-present watchful eye of superiors and the temptation of distractions, such as efficiently completing household chores on company time, the lines are now so blurred between work time and leisure time, and many of us are spending more hours at the desk than ever before.
The pitfalls of a sedentary lifestyle have been well-documented for many years. Studies state that sitting for long periods slows the metabolism, which affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, and blood pressure and break down body fat, and having an inactive lifestyle has been linked with being overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and early death.
The advent of standing desks appears to bring a ready-made solution to the problem
The advent of standing desks appears to bring a ready-made solution to the problem of sedentary office workers. However, the reality seems a little less clear-cut than that. Writing in Harvard Health Publishing, Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, referring to a 2016 study by the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, states that while the study suggests that a standing adjustable desk is unlikely to help with weight loss or avoiding weight gain, there may be other reasons to stand while you work, such as blood sugar levels return to normal faster after a meal on days a person spends more time standing and that standing, rather than sitting, may reduce the risk of shoulder and back pain.
Interestingly, it seems that alternating between sitting and standing. At the same time, working does not affect certain forms of productivity, which bodes well for employees looking to justify to their employer the replacement of their traditional desk with a standing or adjustable desk.
Standing and light movement and exercise throughout the workday is the best way
Indeed it would appear that a balance between sitting, standing and light movement and exercise throughout the workday is the best way to combat the rigors of desk-based employment. In a 2022 study published in the British Medical Journal, the subjects of the study were reported to have small improvements in stress, well-being, and vigor.
The scientific evidence suggests that merely standing at a desk all day while bringing certain ergonomic benefits will have a negligible impact on the overall health of the average office worker. It would appear that alternating between sitting, standing, and regular gentle exercise is the best plan of attack to stave off the threats to health that a sedentary work environment brings. Now more than ever, it is important to embrace better and smarter ways of working, and it is clear that height-adjustable desks have their place in the modern workspace.
