New research released on sit/stand desks

Pessimism: A valuable protection against quackery.

John Ralston Saul

Since the sit/stand desk gained popularity, many companies and people have asserted wild claims about how they can help you. We all know to take early sensationalism with a pinch of salt (or pessimism), but can sit/stand desks actually help you feel better at work? Yes they can.

Dr April Chambers from Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh led a recent study on how sit/stand desks effect office workers’ health and mental wellbeing. It has been widely well received, explaining that standing whilst working effects behaviour and discomfort in a positive way, but it also finally debunks quack claims that standing more whilst working can help you loose weight.

The study looked at 53 separate articles, which focussed in on a wide variety of purported benefits, from physiological and psychological to posture and even increased efficiency at work. They concluded that sit/stand desks “made users more comfortable at work” though Chambers said “people simply are not yet burning enough calories to lose weight with these devices”.

“There is still more to learn about sit-stand desks, The science is catching up so let’s use what we’ve studied in this area to advance the research and answer some of these pressing questions so that people can use sit-stand desks correctly and get the most benefit from them” concluded Chambers.

Sources:

https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/News/2019/sit-stand-desks/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003687019300304