Many people are turning to standing desks and other ways to avoid sitting too much, hoping to stay healthier and lower the risks associated with being sedentary.
Whether it’s standing at a desk or spending time on your feet in retail jobs, the belief is that standing more will help offset the negative effects of sitting for long periods.
However, new research suggests that simply standing may not be the answer and could bring its own set of risks.
A recent study led by researchers at the University of Sydney found that standing more often does not significantly improve heart health and, in some cases, could even lead to circulation problems like varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, the study looked at the impact of long-term standing and sitting on heart health.
The researchers discovered that standing more didn’t reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems, such as heart disease, stroke, or heart failure.
In fact, prolonged standing could contribute to circulatory issues. These findings challenge the common perception that standing more can undo the effects of a mostly sedentary lifestyle.
Dr. Matthew Ahmadi, the lead author and Deputy Director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Center, explained that while standing isn’t harmful to heart health, it also doesn’t provide clear benefits.
“Standing for too long won’t make up for sitting all day and could actually put some people at risk for circulation-related problems,” he said.
The researchers emphasize that sitting for long periods—over 10 hours a day—still poses a significant risk to heart health and circulatory problems. Instead of standing as a solution, the study recommends incorporating regular movement and exercise throughout the day.
According to Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, Director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub, movement is essential for anyone who sits or stands for long periods.
“It’s important to find ways to include small bits of movement into your day,” he suggested. “Simple actions like taking a walk, climbing stairs, or having walking meetings can be effective.”
The findings are part of a broader effort to understand how everyday activities affect heart health. The study analyzed data from 83,013 adults in the UK who did not have heart disease at the start of the study.
Over a period of seven to eight years, the researchers collected heart condition and circulatory disease information using wrist-worn wearables, similar to smartwatches.
Interestingly, earlier research by Professor Stamatakis and Dr. Ahmadi found that even a short amount of exercise—about six minutes of vigorous activity or 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise each day—could lower the risk of heart disease.
This was true even for those who were otherwise highly sedentary, sitting for more than 11 hours a day.
So, what’s the takeaway for those looking to improve their health? The key is not just standing more, but moving regularly. Instead of relying on standing desks or being on your feet all day, it’s better to take frequent breaks from sitting, get up and walk around, and find opportunities to be active.
Dr. Ahmadi and Professor Stamatakis both stress that regular movement and structured exercise are more effective ways to reduce the risks of heart disease.
With warmer months arriving in places like Australia, they suggest taking advantage of the pleasant weather to go outside for sun-safe activities that keep you moving. Even small changes can make a big difference in keeping your heart healthy over the long term.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes.
The research findings can be found in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
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