A common conception is that sitting "is the new smoking".

As with how smoking can produce dire results to one's body, individuals are at a high risk of being diagnosed with significant health issues due to prolonged periods of sitting. Although this may sound like an exaggeration, it has been recognised by health professionals that those that sit for hours on end have a significantly higher mortality rate, and unfortunately studies have shown that regular exercise will not necessarily negate the associated health risks [1].

Prolonged periods of inactivity affects the body's key metabolic activities which can lead to several potential health issues and diseases, namely obesity, weight gain, musculoskeletal disorders, and heart disease. This is possible as muscle contraction from the active use of one's muscles is a key contributor to many of the body's regulatory processes. Active muscle use is essential in regulating enzymatic activity such as the removal of fats and sugars from the blood into the skeletal muscle. The inactive use of one's muscles, which thereby would slow down the body's regulatory processes, could thus essentially lead to a transient rise in blood glucose, free fatty acids, and triglycerides.

According to an Australian study published in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise which tested the blood samples of 23 overweight office workers over a fortnight - with one week spent sitting throughout the standard business hours, and the other week in alternating work positions - it was found that the glucose levels during the week in which  the participants alternated between sitting and standing (for 30 minutes at a time) improved significantly by 11 percent. This cites the benefits of standing and supports the claim that the risk of health issues and disease are evidently just as prevalent among smokers as it is with those that sit most of the day.

These health issues linked to prolonged inactivity affect thousands of Australians yearly, having been raised as an official concern by the Australian Department of Health. In fact, in 2014 the Australian Department of Health released a set of guidelines which encouraged regular daily movement in the workplace[2]. But how can thousands of Australians that sit behind a desk on average for 7.7 hours per day incorporate active living during work hours?

In 2013 the American Medical Association adopted a policy that encouraged the use of sit-stand workstations due to the potential risks sedentary lifestyles have on the individual[3] with Stanford University reporting that the use of sit-stand workstations reduced the occurrence of back pain by 78% among users[4]. Sit-stand workstations are constructed for ease in reading and writing while standing or sitting on a high stool and function by easily repositioning the user's display and keyboard at varied heights. With its use going hand-in-hand with Australian WHS standards[5], sit-stand – or height-adjustable – workstations have rapidly been taking their place in the office.

As standing requires the use of many muscles, this encourages healthy movement throughout the day, and thus it can be recognised that sit-stand workstations are a well-rounded strategy in promoting regular movement and healthy, productive individuals in the office.

[1] http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org
[2] http://www.health.gov.au
[3] www.latimes.com
[4] www.journals.lww.com
[5] www.heartfoundation.org.au

Image Source: http://www.safety.uwa.edu.au/