New findings indicate that, in the long run, spending more time standing rather than sitting doesn’t enhance heart health and may actually raise the risk of issues like varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.
Many individuals have turned to standing as a way to counteract the negative effects of a lifestyle that involves a lot of sitting, often due to long hours at a computer, in front of the TV, or while driving. Standing desks have become increasingly popular in office settings, while retail workers may prefer to stand throughout their shifts.
However, these efforts might not lead to the expected improvements. Research from the University of Sydney has demonstrated that, over time, standing more instead of sitting does not result in better cardiovascular health outcomes (including conditions like coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure) and might elevate the risk of circulatory problems associated with prolonged standing.
The findings, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, revealed that sitting for more than 10 hours a day heightened the risk for both cardiovascular disease and issues related to changes in posture, highlighting the importance of increasing physical activity throughout the day. The research indicated that simply standing more does not correlate with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Matthew Ahmadi, the study’s lead author from the Faculty of Medicine and Health and Deputy Director of the Charles Perkins Centre’s Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub, pointed out alternative approaches for individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle to better their heart health.
“The main conclusion is that prolonging standing won’t compensate for a lifestyle that is largely sedentary and could pose risks for circulatory health. Our findings underline that, in the long run, more standing does not enhance cardiovascular health and may increase the likelihood of circulatory issues,” stated Dr. Ahmadi.
While the researchers found no significant health benefits from standing more, they advised against sitting for lengthy periods. They recommend that individuals leading a sedentary lifestyle or those who often stand too long should incorporate movement breaks throughout the day.
According to Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, Director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub, “For those who frequently sit for extended periods, integrating incidental movements throughout the day alongside structured exercise could be a more effective strategy for mitigating the risk of cardiovascular disease.”
“Taking regular breaks, walking around, scheduling walking meetings, utilizing stairs, and incorporating movement during long drives or breaks during lunch hours can help. With the arrival of warmer months in Australia, it’s an ideal time for safe outdoor exercise to promote movement,” he added.
Research conducted by Professor Stamatakis and Dr. Ahmadi earlier this year suggested that engaging in roughly 6 minutes of vigorous exercise or 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily could lower the risk of heart disease, even for those who sit for more than 11 hours a day.
This study involved data on incidents of heart and circulatory diseases collected over 7 to 8 years from 83,013 UK adults who had no heart disease at the start. Data was gathered using advanced wrist-worn devices similar to smartwatches.
It’s important to note that the study did not specifically look at standing desk use but rather assessed the cardiovascular and circulatory effects of increased periods of standing. The use of standing desks in this context likely accounts for only a small portion of the total time spent standing.
