Tejal Somvanshi
A University of Sydney study of 83,013 adults reveals that increased standing time may pose unexpected health risks while failing to deliver promised cardiovascular benefits.
According to research published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, standing for more than two hours daily increases circulatory disease risk by 11% per additional 30 minutes. The study tracked participants through UK Biobank health records, using wrist-worn devices to monitor movement patterns.
“Standing for too long will not offset an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people regarding circulatory health,” warns Dr. Matthew Ahmadi from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health. “We found that standing more does not improve cardiovascular health over the long-term and increases the risk of circulatory issues.”
Health Risks Identified
The research uncovered several concerning findings about prolonged standing:
- Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis.
- Higher likelihood of developing varicose veins.
- No reduction in stroke risk.
- No improvement in heart failure prevention.
- No benefits for coronary heart disease prevention.
These results challenge common beliefs about standing as a solution to sedentary habits. The study also found that sitting for over 10 hours daily significantly increases cardiovascular and orthostatic risks, regardless of standing time.
Expert Recommendations
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, Director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub, advocates for alternative approaches: “For people who sit for long periods regularly, including plenty of incidental movement throughout the day and structured exercise may be a better way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.”
The British Heart Foundation’s Senior Cardiac Nurse, Emily McGrath, adds: “The more people can avoid being stationary, the better. Over the long term, the study showed that standing time was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, however, it did have other circulatory health implications.”
Movement Solutions
Health experts in the study recommend these evidence-based alternatives:
- Regular movement breaks throughout the workday
- Walking meetings
- Stair usage instead of elevators
- Scheduled breaks during long-distance driving
- Active lunch hours away from desks
Previous research by the same team found that 6 minutes of vigorous exercise or 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily could help reduce heart disease risk, even for individuals who remain sedentary for over 11 hours.
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Research Methodology
The study analyzed data over seven to eight years from UK Biobank participants who started without heart disease. The research measured the cardiovascular and circulatory impacts of increased standing time across all activities, rather than specifically studying standing desk usage.
Dr. Ahmadi’s research received funding from the National Heart Foundation, while Professor Stamatakis’s work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The study used data from the UK Biobank, which contains de-identified genetic, lifestyle, and health information from half a million UK participants.
Study Implications
The research suggests focusing on regular movement rather than static standing positions. The key findings emphasize avoiding prolonged periods in any single position, whether sitting or standing and incorporating structured exercise into daily routines.These findings come from analyzing incident heart condition and circulatory disease data through research-grade wrist-worn wearables similar to smartwatches. The researchers declared no competing interests in their official press release.
