The Facts

What we know about sitting and standing

In our modern sedentary culture we sit way too much. That’s clearly the conclusion of the research. But that research also highlights the obvious remedy: standing!
eBook: Stand More, Sit LesseBook

About Sitting

  • Global studies show, on average, we sit 7.7 hours a day, and some results estimate people sit up to 15 hours a day. Calculate your daily sitting time.
  • Excessive sitting impacts our body’s metabolic system: “Today, our bodies are breaking down from obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, depression and the cascade of health ills and everyday malaise that come from what scientists have named sitting disease.” ~ James Levine, MD, PhD
  • If inactive and sitting longer than 6 hours a day, women are 94% more likely to die prematurely. Read more.
  • The sedentary lifestyles of men increase the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality by 82%. Read more.
  • Combating sitting disease with added gym-time may not work: most people don’t have time for MORE exercise, and more exercise time may not even reverse sitting disease.
Infographic: The workFit SurveyInfographic

About Standing

  • The obvious remedy to sitting disease is to simply stand more—while you compute or watch TV or do any number of daily activities.
  • Standing is like walking: It increases energy, burns extra calories, tones muscles, improves posture, increases blood flow and ramps up metabolism.
  • Standing all day may not be healthy or practical—people naturally want to sit at times to rest or when intensely concentrating.
  • A recent study published by the CDC indicates adjustable sit-to-stand products are an effective solution for reducing prolonged sitting. You can instantaneously sit or stand as you choose while remaining effectively engaged with your computer. Read more.
  • The testimonials prove it: People really like to stand!

Infographics

Infographic: Take-a-Stand Project
Take-a-Stand Project
Infographic: Sitting Disease by the Numbers
Sitting Disease by Numbers
Infographic: 2 of 3 Workers Want “Sit or Stand” Choice
Workers Want Choice
Infographic: Sitting Is Killing You
Sitting Is Killing You
Infographic: The WorkFit Survey
The WorkFit Survey

Other Ways to Stand More

  1. Walk more at work: Park your car farther away from your building; use stairs not elevators; take a long route to the restroom or mail room .
  2. While computing, set a timer to remind you to stand up and stretch every half hour; take this time to pick-up and clean your work area.
  3. Stand up when you talk on the phone.
  4. Don’t send emails if the recipient is near; walk over and talk to him or her.
  5. Avoid long sitting commutes by standing on the bus, subway or train.
  6. When watching TV, lose the remote; get up to change the channels.
  7. Stand or exercise while you watch TV, or just stand and move around during pesky commercial breaks.
  8. During intense gaming, stand up in between sessions and screen loads.
 
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