Can’t stand it? New research reveals standing desks might not be so healthy after all

For the last few years, standing desks have become a popular stationary order in the office and at home, with the contraption being hailed as a cure-all for all kinds of health concerns.

Designed to suit the ergonomically challenged, standing desks allow a person to adjust their laptop, monitor or writing utensils to a height that places no downward stain on their posture.

From improving posture and neck pain to boosting productivity and daily calorie expenditure, standing desks have been repeatedly linked to several health benefits, but one new study is calling out these claims, suggesting our health-centric obsession with standing desks is scarcely rooted in evidence.

For every technological advancement mankind has accomplished in recent decades, we’ve also fallen victim to the long-term health implications attached to many of them.

While we’ve never been more interconnected and tech-savvy in our homes and workplaces, many of us have become increasingly sedentary as a result, increasing our risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.

As a natural solution to combat our sedentary lifestyle, standing desks were introduced to encourage people to change their routines and reduce sitting time in the office and at home. However, according to new research, substituting eight hours of sitting for 8 hours of standing may not be as beneficial for our health as previously believed.

What did the study uncover?

Published this month in PubMed, the new Australian research uses data uncovered from over 83,000 participants to conclude that standing desk use doesn’t necessarily improve a person’s heart health, and is likely to increase their risk of developing certain circulatory problems. 

As the findings demonstrate, standing still for extended periods of time, though believed to be more beneficial than sitting, did not improve participants’ cardiovascular health or risk of stroke.

Both standing and sitting for prolonged periods, however, were found to increase a person’s risk of developing varicose veins (caused by blood pooling in the legs) or of feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

So, are standing desks bad for us?

Though the initial findings of the study and the large sample size of participants certainly point to prolonged standing as an equal health risk as prolonged sitting, it is too early to claim standing desks are indeed bad for us.

As the research indicates, simply substituting sitting for standing at work all day is not a perfect way to reverse negative health implications.

Instead, experts suggest incorporating regular movement throughout the day, as our bodies respond better to that rather than static positions such as sitting and standing. As long as you are regularly taking breaks and opportunities to move your body, alternating between sitting and standing is recommended.

How to prioritise your health at work

Before you go out and invest in a standing desk with a built-in treadmill or exercise bike, think about incorporating a few simpler (and cheaper) forms of movement into your day.