Standing would not compensate for a sedentary life

To combat the harmful effects of sitting and a sedentary lifestyle, have you equipped yourself with an adjustable desk that allows you to work standing up? This has a good intention, but this solution would not be that optimal for the body.

A study from the University of Sydney shows that in the long term, standing would not improve cardiovascular health and would even increase the risk of circulatory problems such as varicose veins. It was published in the journalInternational Journal of EpidemiologyOctober 16, 2024.

Standing does not combat a sedentary lifestyle

The Australian researchers took the records of 83,013 Britons without heart disease at baseline and followed them over a period of 7 to 8 years. They noted which volunteers developed heart problems or circulation disorders during the study. The scientists also assessed their physical activities using a wrist-worn device similar to a smartwatch.

Analyzes found that standing in general (not just when using a standing desk) did not improve cardiovascular health more than sitting. Furthermore, standing on both legs increased the risk of developing circulatory problems such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.

The study also confirmed that being in a chair for more than 10 hours a day increased the risk of both cardiovascular pathologies and circulatory disorders.

“The main takeaway is that standing for too long will not compensate for an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people in terms of circulatory health. We found that standing does not improve cardiovascular health in the long run. term and increases the risk of circulatory problems”explains Dr Ahmadi, lead author of the study in a press release.

Sedentary lifestyle: how to avoid health problems?

Australian researchers have given recommendations to reduce the risk of heart problems or diseases related to blood circulation if you spend long hours sitting. They advise workers to schedule regular exercise throughout the day.

“Take regular breaks, take a walk, walk to a meeting, use the stairs, take regular breaks when driving long distances, or use that lunch hour to get away from the desk and get some movement “, suggests Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis who worked on the study.

Dr. Ahmadi’s work, published this summer, showed that doing about 6 minutes of vigorous exercise or 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per day helped reduce the risk of heart disease, even in people who were sedentary for more than 11 hours. daily.