Live Well

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Sitting has often been called the new smoking. But what if you have a so-called “desk job?” Is that equivalent to smoking eight hours a day?

Well, not exactly, and definitely not if you have a standing desk. Standing desks have been gaining popularity in recent years, but they were actually used in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and Virginia Woolf and Winston Churchill were purported fans. Although the research is disputed, some believe standing desks offer health benefits that conventional desks do not, such as burning more calories. Standing desks are not inexpensive, so if you’re considering purchasing a standing desk at home, or have appealed to your employer for a standing desk, it’s wise to do your research first. Here are a couple of useful articles to get you started:

• Hello, meet my new standing desk, by Daphne Gray-Grant
• Why one man ditched his standing desk for good, by Harvey Schachter, The Globe and Mail
• Standing desk impact examined by researchers (with video), CBC NEWS