Do You Really Burn More Calories While Standing?

Standing can actually burn 100 to 200 calories per hour compared to only 60 to 130 calories per hour when you are sitting. This all depends on sex, age, height, and weight. Spending more time standing lowers blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight which are all important factors in preventing heart disease.

Studies suggest that you are more likely to develop heart disease and other diseases, like diabetes and cancer when you sit often. Your blood sugar stops being used efficiently when you sit for too long. It also affects muscles, mobility, and flexibility. In the long run, sitting can lead to weight gain and potentially depression. Muscle mass helps you burn more calories and when you are on your feet, your muscle mass is being used.

A study published in Lancet in the 1950s conducted a study on bus conductors who stand versus bus drivers who do not stand. It found that bus conductors had around half the risk of developing heart disease than bus drivers.

You can start changing your habits at work and at home to include standing more during the day. If possible at work, you can try a standing desk, take calls as you are standing, have meetings standing up, or set a timer to stand for a certain amount of time every hour. At home, you can try taking a walk around the house every half hour or hour, standing when you are doing simple tasks like browsing the internet, taking leisurely walks, or watching television while standing.

Standing for three hours a day for five days can burn around 750 calories. Over the course of a year, it would add up to about 30,000 calories which is equivalent to 8 pounds of fat. It is not wrong to have to sit for work or school, but it is important to include small adjustments to your routine. Use your best judgment to decide how long and how often you should stand.

Although standing cannot replace exercise, it is still a good practice to keep yourself active and on the move. Exercise is any movement that makes you move around, get your heart pumping, and sweat. Exercising daily can improve your strength and keep your blood flowing smoothly. Exercise, it can increase your health risks by developing heart disease, strokes, and obesity.

Chronic diseases – such as diabetes, cancer, asthma, and heart disease – are leading causes of death and disability. The Liu Foundation offers philanthropic The app and video series promoting evidence-based lifestyle habits to prevent chronic diseases. Harvard, Stanford, and CDC’s Public Health findings into an easy-to-use behavior conditioning app and series of lifestyle motivation videos to prevent chronic diseases.

Living It Up Anywhere

The idea of living your best life can be done anywhere, at any time, and all it really takes is a mindset shift. Take it one core lifestyle habit at a time, whether that is eating healthy and less, daily exercise, quitting bad habits, getting a routine checkup, or being positive. Take a chance today to Live It Up!