by LarryC
13 replies
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It's a safe assumption that most internet marketers, writers, programmers and others who frequent this forum spend a good part of the day sitting in a chair. Evidence suggests that this is not healthy -no matter what kind of chair you're sitting in.

What's most troubling is that studies show that it doesn't even matter if you get regular exercise -simply the fact of sitting all day puts you at risk for health problems. It's just not the way we were designed to spend the day. I'm thinking of switching to a stand-up desk. Does anyone use one of these?

Are You Sitting Down? Why a Stand-Up Desk Might Save Your Life [PICS]
  • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
    I saw this on the news today (somewhere?)

    Kind of reminds me of the old 'leisure suits cause cancer' back in the late 70's

    Bummer — Sitting Down Gives You Cancer | Gizmodo Australia
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    Ok, now I'm really motivated to get off my a$$. I don't remember the leisure suits thing -not that I'm too young to remember, I just don't. Maybe because I seldom wear suits, leisure or otherwise. But I'm convinced about the dangers of sitting, silly as it might sound.
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  • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
    Well actually, the leisure suits thing was an old joke about Disco.

    May have been regional to Los Angeles, I don't know.

    Every few years there is another reason for that disease, kind of wish they would find the real one.

    Sitting all day can't be any better for you than, standing all day, though.

    Or for that matter, overdoing anything...
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  • Profile picture of the author jacktackett
    My wife broke her ankle 3 years ago and was laid up for a while. Has always had pain in her leg and about 2 months ago her leg swelled up and scared us. Luckily she went straight to the doctors and they found a blood clot in her leg. They pumped her full blood thinners and clot busters and luckily they have the issue under control now. Still not out of the woods - but blood clots are no urban legend - moving around is a must. even on a plane you should move around every once and a while.
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  • Profile picture of the author GT
    I agree that sitting for long stretches can be bad for your body. I have developed some slight arthritis in my lower spine that I attribute to my computer habits.

    It flares up from time to time and when it does, I cannot find a comfortable position sitting or laying down. Sitting is especially troublesome, so I have started looking for one of those stand-up desks, or one of those kneeling chairs.

    Oh, and I have been making it a point to exercise more frequently throughout the day!

    GT
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    The way to prevent sitting too long in front of the computer is to have a toddler (or maybe a pet raccoon) in the same room as you.
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    • Profile picture of the author PolishedPerfect
      Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

      The way to prevent sitting too long in front of the computer is to have a toddler (or maybe a pet raccoon) in the same room as you.

      AGREED!!!!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    What's most troubling is that studies show that it doesn't even matter if you get regular exercise -simply the fact of sitting all day puts you at risk for health problems. It's just not the way we were designed to spend the day. I'm thinking of switching to a stand-up desk.
    I don't know, I bend in the all the right directions for sitting. Lack of exercise, whether you sit or stand all day, might be about equally unhealthy.

    One thing about studies, you have to know who funded them and who conducted them. The purpose of lot of studies is to cast the right environment for a marketing campaign.

    I could read a few web pages that have what I need to set the stage for a product I make and call my 5 minutes of research a study. There is no de facto standard for what consitutes a study. If the average age a male lives is 75, I could search for male bloggers over 75 and, upon finding a few, I could say a "study" shows that men who blog live longer than average.

    Conclusions often are not related to reality. Not saying that's the case here, I don't know, just saying why I take any study with a grain of salt until I know more about the study.
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    Dennis, I agree with you in principle about studies, especially when there's a political or financial agenda involved. Pharmaceutical companies have enough money to fund their own studies, for example. But I don't see that in this case. Who stands to gain -the makers of stand-up desks? Of course, studies can be flawed in many ways and perhaps this one it. To me it sounds intuitively right though.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

      Dennis, I agree with you in principle about studies, especially when there's a political or financial agenda involved. Pharmaceutical companies have enough money to fund their own studies, for example. But I don't see that in this case. Who stands to gain -the makers of stand-up desks? Of course, studies can be flawed in many ways and perhaps this one it. To me it sounds intuitively right though.
      Exacly, Larry. The makers of the stand up desk would stand to make millions if they could sell the idea on a large scale, so yes, that's a possibility. I'm not saying that's the case, of course, I haven't looked into it. I was just issuing a general caution against relying on "studies" without questioning some key points about them.

      Of course, as experienced marketers, we know there are some companies who rely on the fact that most people are too lazy to do their due diligence.

      To me, it makes no sense that sitting in one spot all day would be any more harmful than standing in one spot all day. Of course, too much of anything can produce unwanted results.
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  • Profile picture of the author AllThingsLuxury
    Makes sense, you have to remember to take a lot of breaks, I force myself to stand up on a regular basis.
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  • Profile picture of the author g4r3th
    Good idea to take regular breaks. Don't work too hard, just as important to stay healthy.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Standing in one spot all day isn't going to help you. It's not the position you are in - it's lack of movement that is the culprit. Sitting will actually take less toll on some parts of your body than standing - but when it comes to being physically fit and keeping the metabolism primed - movement is necessary. That might even be why we have a 50 minute attention span....so we will get up and move around periodically.

    There are studies that show that those with metabolisms that control weight the best are those who move frequently. Not necessarily "exercise" but movement in it's most basic sense.

    I make sure that I get up and go outside every 50 minutes or so, walk around the yard or block, go check the mail, do some stretching. If I sit down in front of a TV it's on the floor and I do stretches while I watch. If there's music on, I will dance to at least part of a song every now and again.

    There's a million ways to get enough movement to keep your body flexible and working properly. Standing at a desk instead of sitting at one isn't one of them.
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