The broad harms of a sedentary lifestyle include increased risks of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and premature death. In response to this, there’s been a surge in popularity over recent years of lifestyle interventions that aim to lower how long we sit and increase our active standing (such as using standing desks at work).
Now, new research from the University of Sydney and published in the International Journal of Epidemiology has found that over the long-term, replacing sitting with standing does not improve cardiovascular health, and could increase the risk of circulatory issues related to standing, such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.
The study used data collected from 83,000 participants in the UK Biobank. For two years, participants wore wrist devices which measured how long they spent each day sitting or standing compared with more active time. The participants were followed up for nearly seven years, with deaths, hospitalisations, and primary care attendances linked. Researchers focussed on conditions including orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure dropping on standing), varicose veins, venous insufficiency, venous ulcers, ischaemic heart disease, stroke and heart failure. The researchers also took account of important factors such as age, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, diet, family history and education level.
They found that sitting for over 10 hours a day increased both cardiovascular disease and orthostatic hypotension risk, reinforcing the need for greater physical activity throughout the day. The researchers also noted that standing more was not associated with heightened cardiovascular disease risk.
Lead author Dr Matthew Ahmadi, said there were other ways than just standing, for those with a sedentary lifestyle to improve their cardiovascular health.
“The key takeaway is that standing for too long will not offset an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people in terms of circulatory health. We found that standing more does not improve cardiovascular health over the long term and increases the risk of circulatory issues,” Dr Ahmadi said.
According to co-author Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, structured exercise may be a better way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
“Take regular breaks, walk around, go for a walking meeting, use the stairs, take regular breaks when driving long distances, or use that lunch hour to get away from the desk and do some movement. In Australia, we are now coming into the warmer months, so the weather is perfect for sun-safe exercise that helps you get moving,” Professor Stamatakis said.
Further information
Device-measured stationary behaviour and cardiovascular and orthostatic circulatory disease incidence: International Journal of Epidemiology
Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians: Department of Health and Aged Care
