Email Print Small Text Large Text
Study: Have You Tried A Standing Desk?
Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Using a standing desk boosts kilojoule burn

By Meghan G. Loftus


/site/_content/image/00007705-image.jpg

You'll burn more kilojoules while working if you do it standing up instead of sitting down – not the most earth-shattering news we've ever reported, but a good reminder to office-dwellers that a standing desk could be a worthy investment.

A new study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health (abstract here) recruited 20 university-aged subjects (10 male, 10 female, all students) to do maths problems in the lab. They were divided into two groups: One did the problems while standing, the other, while sitting. Researchers measured the gases the students inhaled and exhaled for 45 minutes to calculate how many kilojoules the students burned. The students who stood burned an average of 1.42 kilojoules per minute more than those who sat.

Over the course of an eight-hour workday, that's an additional 681.6 kilojoules burned while standing.


Like this article? Subscribe to Runner’s World and save up to A$35 on the retail price (delivered directly to your door) and receive a FREE pair of Brooks socks PLUS if you subscribe for two years you will also receive a FREE Runner’s World watch.

If you missed picking this issue up at newsstands you can purchase your Runner's World back issue here today!


 
Comments
Posted by Natalie at 12/12/2012 06:34 AM
Meghan, Thanks for the post. I've tried, not a standing desk, but an adjustable height desk. This, I think, is a better solution since you can just push a button and it will adjust to any height you'd like, sitting or standing. Well, mine does anyway. (I use a NextDesk.) I do tend to stand for most of my day, but I find it useful to have the option-- especially right now with stress fracture from running. It has been really helpful to have the option the past couple of weeks to take a "sitting break." Thanks for the post! Natalie
Submit a comment
Name
Email
Comment
News Archive
more
 
 
Shop Promo

You need to upgrade your Flash Player to version 9 or newer.
SHOE GUIDE: Brooks Ravenna 4
Stuart Simpson, Brooks Technical Representative, chats to RW Editor Lisa Holmes about the fourth edition of the Ravenna
HUMAN RACE: Young Blood
A young runner clocks more than most of us will in a lifetime. Andrew Hedgman raised almost $6000 for WSPA.....
Watch More Videos

The paceband calculator uses one of your recent race times to reveal what pace you should run.

 
What's your key motivation behind weight-loss?