Stand Up Desks

The health benefits of stand-up desks have been discussed in various articles and studies. Some of the potential benefits associated with using stand-up desks include:

• Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Standing desks are believed to reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer by promoting more movement and less sedentary behavior throughout the day​.

• Calorie Burn: It's suggested that standing burns more calories compared to sitting. Some studies have shown that working at a standing desk for a single afternoon can burn up to an additional 170 calories compared to sitting​.

• Reduced Discomfort: A study found that 47% of people with height-adjustable desks reported a significant reduction in upper back, shoulder, or neck discomfort​.

• Increased Productivity: The same study also found that 65% of people with height-adjustable desks reported increased productivity and better concentration ability after one year of use​.

A notable study titled "Stand Up to Work: Assessing the Health Impacts of Adjustable Workstations" conducted over a 12-month period found that height-adjustable standing desks are linked to increased productivity, better concentration, and improved overall health. The study was led by Dr. Elizabeth Garland, an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and was published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. This study is distinctive due to its long duration and inclusion of complementary qualitative data. People who used height-adjustable desks reported a 17% reduction in sitting three months into the study, a trend that remained at the one-year mark. Additionally, 65% of the participants reported that the height-adjustable desks positively impacted their health outside of the workplace​.

These benefits contribute to the growing popularity of standing desks, although the extent of benefits might vary from person to person, and a mixture of sitting and standing is often recommended to reap the benefits while mitigating potential drawbacks such as leg or back discomfort from standing for extended periods.