Does Standing at Your Desk Burn Calories?
If you’re looking for a way to sneak in some extra exercise during the day, you might have heard that standing at your desk instead of sitting can help you burn a few extra calories.
But does standing at your desk actually help you lose weight? Let’s take a look at the science behind standing and see if it really can help you slim down.
How Many Calories Does Standing at Your Desk Burn?
It turns out that standing at your desk can help you burn a few extra calories each day. One study found that participants who stood burned an average of 87 more calories per hour than those who sat. That might not sound like a lot, but it can add up over time!
If you stand for three hours a day, five days a week, you could burn an extra 1,305 calories each week. And since one pound of fat equals 3,500 calories, that means you could lose about half a pound each week just by standing at your desk!
Of course, calorie burn isn’t the only factor that determines weight loss. What you eat throughout the day also plays a role. But if you’re looking for a simple way to boost your calorie burn, standing at your desk is a great place to start.
Are There Any Other Benefits to Standing at Your Desk?
In addition to burning more calories, standing at your desk has also been linked to other health benefits. For example, one study found that people who stood instead of sat had lower levels of fasting blood sugar and insulin.
This is important because high blood sugar and insulin levels are linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In fact, the participants who stood the most had blood sugar and insulin levels that were 35% and 43% lower than those who sat the most!
Standing has also been linked to better heart health. One study found that people who spent more time standing had lower rates of heart disease than those who spent less time on their feet. Researchers believe this is because standing helps improve blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a way to boost your calorie burn and improve your health, consider spending more time on your feet! Standing at your desk is an easy way to do this, and it comes with some added health benefits too.
So next time you’re feeling sluggish mid-afternoon, try standing up and getting moving – your body will thank you for it!
Allen Joe
Allen is a stay-at-home dad and freelance writer. He writes for the home office blog, where he covers topics like organization, productivity, and home improvement. Allen loves spending time with his wife and two young kids, and when he has free time he likes to golf, read, and cook.
