Many people have turned to standing as a way to fight the negative effects of sitting for long periods, whether at work, at home, or while driving.
Standing desks have become popular in offices, and some workers in industries like retail choose to stand rather than sit.
But new research from the University of Sydney suggests that standing more might not offer the health benefits many hope for and could even cause circulatory issues over time.
The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, looked at whether standing instead of sitting could improve cardiovascular health.
The researchers focused on long-term outcomes like coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.
Surprisingly, the results showed that standing more did not improve cardiovascular health and could actually increase the risk of circulatory problems such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), conditions caused by poor blood circulation.
Lead researcher Dr. Matthew Ahmadi, from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health, explained, “Standing for long periods won’t fix the problems of a sedentary lifestyle, and in fact, it could be risky for some people’s circulatory health.
Our study found no evidence that standing more helps reduce the risk of heart disease, but it does increase the chances of circulatory issues.”
The study also highlighted the dangers of sitting for long periods. Sitting for more than 10 hours a day was linked to a higher risk of both cardiovascular disease and issues like dizziness or fainting when standing, known as orthostatic problems.
This reinforces the need for people who sit for long periods to include more movement throughout their day.
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, Director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub, added that while standing all day isn’t the solution, neither is sitting. He advised people who sit for extended periods to take regular breaks and add more movement into their routine.
“Taking short breaks to walk around, having walking meetings, using stairs instead of elevators, or going for a walk during lunch can help reduce the risks associated with sitting too much,” he said.
The research team also pointed out that regular exercise is important. Earlier studies from Dr. Ahmadi and Professor Stamatakis found that just six minutes of vigorous exercise or 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily can lower the risk of heart disease, even for people who are sedentary for most of the day.
The study followed over 83,000 adults from the UK over seven to eight years, using wrist-worn devices similar to smartwatches to track their movement. None of the participants had heart disease when the study began.
The key takeaway is clear: standing more might not be the answer to staying healthy. Instead, regular movement and exercise throughout the day, even if it’s just small amounts, can help protect your heart and overall health.
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