May 24, 2022
In 2022, all aspects of our health and wellbeing are scrutinised, and our habits at the office are no different.
We’ve looked at the benefits of standing desks, setting the facts straight on some of the myths surrounding them and our health in the office.
We often hear people talking about exercise and how it helps them think more clearly. Does this also apply to simply standing up? Research published by the British Medical Journal follows trials involving 146 NHS staff where over half of whom swapped out their traditional office desks for the flexible standing office desks.
The study showed that those who normally had a sedentary work life that switched to a standing desk reported improved engagement in their work along with fewer musculoskeletal problems.
After 12 months, the participants managed to lower their daily sitting by 82.39 minutes and this time was taken up by standing while working instead.
It goes to show that not much standing is required to reap the benefits.
Height adjustable desks do seem to have a positive impact on our headspace.
In one 7-week study, participants using standing desks reported less stress and fatigue than those who remained seated the entire workday.
Additionally, 87% of those using standing desks reported increased vigour and energy throughout the day. Upon returning to their old desks, overall moods reverted to their original levels.
These findings align with broader research on sitting and mental health, which links sedentary time with an increased risk of both depression and anxiety.
Check out our post on mindful desk accessories for better wellbeing.
Back pain is one of the most common complaints of office workers who sit all day.
To determine if standing desks could improve this, several studies have been done on employees with long-term back pain. Participants have reported up to a 32% improvement in lower back pain after several weeks of using standing desks. Another study published by the CDC found that the use of a sit-stand desk reduced upper back and neck pain by 54% after just 4 weeks.
Additionally, the removal of the sit-stand desks reversed some of those improvements within a 2-week period.
Having increased blood sugar levels, generally speaking, is always worse for your health.
“Anything you can do to bring down glucose readings throughout the day is a good thing,” said senior author Glenn Gaesser of the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion at Arizona State University.
A study found that replacing time spent sitting with standing, slow walking or slow cycling can reduce average blood sugar levels across the day.
A total of two and a half hours of standing was required of the participants, something many of us could easily incorporate into our daily work lives with the help of a standing desk.
To maximise this benefit, standing after eating lunch has proven to reduce blood sugar levels the most.
Studies have found a strong link between increased sitting time and early death.
This is not surprising given the strong association between sedentary time, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In fact, a review of 18 studies found those who sit the most are at a 49% greater risk of dying early than those who sit the least. Another study estimated that reducing sitting time to 3 hours per day would raise the average American’s life expectancy by 2 years.
While these observational studies do not prove cause and effect, the weight of evidence indicates standing more often could help lengthen our lifespan.
It’s clear that there are multiple reasons to make a move to a height-adjustable desk. Of course, the hardest part of the adjustment is usually habit-forming, but do stick with it if you can as the benefits are compelling.
Check out our height adjustable desks here.
© 2025 Copyright Whiteleys Office Furniture. All Rights Reserved.