Did you know that currently more than 1 in 2 people now spend more than 6 hours per day sitting down, though in truth, that number is probably higher still.

With so many people spending a good chunk of their day sedentary (don’t forget the 7 – 9 hours they spend in bed) it’s no wonder why we’re facing an obesity crisis. More and more people are gaining weight due to a lack of exercise and activity, though that isn’t the only problem. It turns out that sitting down for too long at work can have dire consequences on your health.

Lately, ergonomic office chairs and adjustable standing desk sales have gone through the roof, as people are finally wising up to the dangers of sitting for too long, and the damage it can cause to your body.

But exactly what are the dangers associated with spending too much time sitting down at work, and what is the solution?

Here are 7 dangers of sitting for too long at work.

It’s bad for your heart

Each year, more people lose their lives due to heart disease than any other condition, and worryingly, that trend does not show any signs of letting up.

Studies have found that people are more susceptible to heart disease and cardiovascular issues if they spend a large percentage of their day sitting down, compared with people who stand up more and are more active.

Sitting at your desk for 7-8 hours per day, then driving home, before sitting down on the sofa in front of the TV 5 nights per week is a recipe for disaster when it comes to your heart, which is why investing in an adjustable standing desk is such a good idea.

Sitting at your desk

You’ll gain weight

Another reason why you should consider switching your regular desk for an adjustable standing desk is due to the fact that the more time we spend sitting, the more weight we will likely gain.

As you know, weight loss and gain basically boil down to calories consumed versus calories burned. If you spend hours upon hours each day sitting at your desk and barely moving, you won’t be very physically active which means you won’t be burning off many calories.

A lack of exercise and physical activity means you burn off fewer calories so you’ll find it much easier to gain weight, and there are very few people who actually want that.

weight loss

You’ll have a weak lower body

One of the lesser-known dangers of sitting down at work for hours on end each day is the fact that it can result in a lack of muscle mass and strength in your lower body.

If you are sitting down in your ergonomic office chair, you may be comfortable and supported, but your legs and glutes won’t be being used so over time this will lead to muscular atrophy and weakness. Put simply, because you aren’t using your lower body muscles enough, gradually you will lose muscle mass and they will become smaller and weaker.

Investing in an adjustable standing desk means that at least your lower-body muscles are being used, so you will maintain and maybe even build strength and muscle mass.

adjustable standing desk

You’ll suffer from poor posture

Without a doubt, one of the main reasons why adjustable standing desk sales have increased so much over the years is due to the fact that people are realizing how amazing they are for poor posture.

Poor posture is often caused by slouching at a desk and looking down, or up, at a laptop screen or monitor for hours on end, with the back bent and the shoulders hunched forwards. Poor posture can lead to a loss of height, walking with a hunch, curvature of the spine, neck pain, back pain, headaches, lack of mobility, and much more besides.

An adjustable standing desk such as the V2 Premium Wood Standing Desk from SOLOS is designed to be used while standing and sitting and can be adjusted with the push of a button.

Alternate between periods of working while standing up, and periods of working on an ergonomic office chair such as the Classic Ergonomic Chair from SOLOS and you will notice a distinct improvement in your posture, and your productivity levels as well.

wood standing desk

You could suffer from varicose veins

People often associate varicose veins with old age and while you are more likely to develop varicose veins as you grow older, you can still get them when you’re relatively young as well.

Sitting down for prolonged periods of time can result in blood in the legs pooling, which can result in varicose veins. Varicose veins are generally not dangerous, but they can be unsightly and can leave people feeling self-conscious about them.

Again, if you invest in a good quality adjustable standing desk, you won’t need to worry about varicose veins.

ergonomic chair

Poor health in general

Exercise isn’t just beneficial for people trying to lose weight, exercise is also very important for anybody who values their health and wants to lead a healthy life.

Sitting for hours on end can put a strain on your heart as we mentioned, plus it can also raise your blood pressure and your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, while also increasing your risk of type-2 diabetes, and various other health issues and ailments.

Something as simple as standing while you work can help to improve your health slightly, and as the saying goes ‘every little helps.

Sitting for hours

You may struggle to sleep

If you’ve ever been through a period of time where you weren’t sleeping very well, you’ll know all too well how awful it can make you feel.

A lack of sleep can leave you feeling stressed, irritable, emotional, and just not yourself and if you are suffering from insomnia, sitting could be to blame. Well, we say sitting, but in actuality, what we mean is a lack of activity.

If you spend most of your day stationary, you won’t be burning off very much energy and so by the time comes to get into bed, your body won’t be as tired as it would if you’d been physically active throughout the day.

struggle to sleep