3 ms·

This is wrong actually. Sitting is an independent risk factor for death (i.e. independent of physical activity level): http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/healt

This is wrong actually. Sitting is an independent risk factor for death (i.e. independent of physical activity level): http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-07-09/sitting-less-could-extend-life/56117870/1 http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-07-09/... The reasoning is that standing activates enzymes and gene expression triggered by activity in your slow-twitch high-fatigue-resistant muscles which run on fatty acids, which has all sorts of benefits for metabolism, body composition, and overall health.

lambda 13y ago
Note that if you take a look at the study mentioned, http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/4/e000828.full http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/4/e000828.full you find: Our analysis assumes that there is a causal relationship between sedentary behaviour and mortality. So, it doesn't actually demonstrate it; it finds a correlation, and makes the assumption that there is causation. However, previous studies have shown that heavier people are more likely to choose sedentary jobs: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1008580/pdf/brjindmed00119-0013.pdf http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1008580/pdf/brji... . So in fact, the causation may go in the other direction; people who are heavier, or less healthy in other ways, may be more likely to choose sedentary jobs or sedentary lifestyles. It would be interesting to see if anyone has actually been able to demonstrate a causal effect based on changes in behavior. Does changing from a sitting desk to a standing desk actually help? I don't think that has been conclusively demonstrated.
- hackinthebochs 13y ago
  I've seen quite a few more studies over the last year or so that come to the same conclusion. A google search returns many.
driverdan 13y ago
> The reasoning is that standing activates enzymes and gene expression That's my point. That there are reasons why standing is better than sitting but the article got them mostly wrong.
- hackinthebochs 13y ago
  Yeah youre right, I skipped the last part of your post when it sounded like you disagreed that sitting was problematic in itself.

lambda 13y ago

Note that if you take a look at the study mentioned, http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/4/e000828.full http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/4/e000828.full you find: Our analysis assumes that there is a causal relationship between sedentary behaviour and mortality. So, it doesn't actually demonstrate it; it finds a correlation, and makes the assumption that there is causation. However, previous studies have shown that heavier people are more likely to choose sedentary jobs: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1008580/pdf/brjindmed00119-0013.pdf http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1008580/pdf/brji... . So in fact, the causation may go in the other direction; people who are heavier, or less healthy in other ways, may be more likely to choose sedentary jobs or sedentary lifestyles. It would be interesting to see if anyone has actually been able to demonstrate a causal effect based on changes in behavior. Does changing from a sitting desk to a standing desk actually help? I don't think that has been conclusively demonstrated.

hackinthebochs 13y ago
I've seen quite a few more studies over the last year or so that come to the same conclusion. A google search returns many.

driverdan 13y ago

> The reasoning is that standing activates enzymes and gene expression That's my point. That there are reasons why standing is better than sitting but the article got them mostly wrong.

hackinthebochs 13y ago
Yeah youre right, I skipped the last part of your post when it sounded like you disagreed that sitting was problematic in itself.