How standing could beat exercise
No doubt you have come across messages warning that sitting is a new health risk. The typical solution often appears to be exercise, like going to the gym, walking, or doing any other workout for at least 30 minutes a day. However, there's good news for those who are not the sporty type: exercise is not necessarily the only solution for addressing poor sitting habits. It's time to stand up!
To excel in something, you often need to practice for ten thousand hours. According to this rule, many of us have become experts in sitting.
Research conducted by Hans Savelberg and colleagues at Maastricht University has demonstrated that prolonged sitting can lead to severe health risks, such as heart and vascular diseases and diabetes. By comparing the health of individuals with sitting, standing, or exercise habits, they concluded that standing and frequent walking are the most effective ways to reduce the health risks associated with sitting. Exercising for just 30 minutes a day is not enough.
Solutions can be found in incorporating more variation between sitting and standing throughout the day. The use of standing desks in offices and schools can greatly contribute to this goal. At EDLAB, we are dedicated to making Maastricht University healthier and more dynamic too.
Go to EDLAB's Education That Moves You project.
Go to EDLAB's Education That Moves You project page.
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