CHEAT’S TRICK TO HEALTH: STAND UP!

STUDIES show that sitting down is catastrophic for health. Getting off our backsides for an extra three to four hours a day can slash the risk of heart disease and diabetes, important for helping us live well for longer.

It’s not just that exercise is good for us; it’s that our sedentary lifestyles are actively bad. Even if you do an hour in a gym, if you spend long hours sitting, it’s bad news for your metabolism.

And pain levels: when we stand, our weight is distributed across all our joints so no single part is under continuous stress. When sitting, all our weight is on our backside, and more pressure goes through our spine — which is why we develop back and neck pain if we sit awkwardly for too long.

Additionally, the muscles in our backside aren’t stimulated. They get weak and won’t switch back on properly when we walk or run, leading to gait abnormalities and pain. Sitting also deactivates our proprioception — the mechanism that signals where all our joints and limbs are — so our muscles and legs are far less responsive.

Meanwhile, research, including studies by Professor John Buckley at the University of Chester, has shown that standing actively helps your body metabolise sugar. This was borne out in an experiment Chris did with Professor Buckley for the BBC’s Trust Me I’m a Doctor, where standing desks were put in an office for a week. Not everyone stuck with it, but in those who did, not only did their blood sugar drop, they reported less pain and their overall health improved, including lower resting heart rates.

Standing more should be thought of as one of many changes that anyone worried about their health should try to do. It’s no substitute for a bad diet or lack of other activity, but it’s a start.