Sitting is the New Smoking

(Source: Gerstacker)

Working in front of the computer all day? Think about it, how long have you been sitting in front of the computer without moving? Do you have a chance to walk around the office? Have you tried to work in different positions?

(Source: Gerstacker)

After work, what is the most comfortable position? Is the picture on the left what you will be doing? Did you know sitting for too long can cause health problems? Do you know your neck soreness, arm muscle strain, and lumbar discomfort are caused by sitting too much?

Researchers say that "sitting is the new smoking." 

Sitting is a bad habit for our bodies. Sitting is also consider as a sedentary lifestyle which can increase problems in human bodies. 

(Source: Gerstacker)

Health Issues

The longer you sit, the higher the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, muscular issues, and depression. If your working environment only allows you to work in a seated position, 8-hour work day can worsen health problems in your body. 

Why people are sitting longer time than before? Is it because there are no other options? 90% of working environments are in seated positions. Due to advances in technology, computers are one of the components that people cannot live without. Most companies are moving to storing files digitally. No more file cabinets are needed. Traditional office setup and digital files provide easy access to the data. Some people say the only exercise they had in the office is going to printer. Since files are store digitally, there are fewer times where printers are needed.

Work Healthier 

One option to increase wellness in the working environment is to provide options to change working position in the office. Height adjustable tables are one of the feature products the increase the changeability of the work place and adjust the working surface provide to the most comfortable condition for the users.

(Source: Haworth)

The primary reason to use this table is to adjust the working surface to a comfortable height and also provide the option to let the user work in a standing position. A table with an adjustable height is only one type of furniture that can reduce health problems associated with sitting too long. There are more on the market. This blog is not telling people to work while standing. If you stand all day, you are going to have other problems. This key is to adjust your working position throughout the day. A sedentary lifestyle is what impacts health.

Having the right choice of furniture provides a health-positive workplace which not only reduces physical issues but also increase productivity. A healthy work environment reduces risk of illness and increases quality of life and worker performance. 

Reference:

Gerstacker, D. (2014, September 5). Sitting is the New Smoking - 7 Ways a Sedentary Lifestyle is Killing You. Retrieved from The Active Times : http://www.theactivetimes.com

Haworth.com