Should You Sit or Stand at Work? Here’s What a Doctor Says

Sitting has been dubbed “the new smoking” due to the ever-accumulating body of research linking our sedentary lifestyles to everything from poor metabolic health to an increased risk of heart disease. And on Thursday, a small new study published in the journal PLOS ONE added to that chorus, suggesting that too much sitting may over time contribute to memory loss and cognitive decline.Standing for a two-hour chunk during the work day, that study found, may lead to physical discomfort all over the body, and make it harder to stay focused and energized. So if it’s not great to sit or stand all day, what should you do at the office?The best way to make a choice for yourself, he says, is to consult your doctor. That said, Isaacson says the bulk of scientific evidence supports the notion that we should minimize time spent sitting.(He does recommend wearing supportive shoes and standing on a soft mat, to reduce strain on the back and joints.)
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