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Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

nytimes.com

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Re: Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

#81

Post by sephware »

netcan wrote: post #68

You know what the problem with problems is? I'll tell you the problem with problems... :) Imagine Jules. Jules likes to put her laptop on the counter and work standing for an hour after lunch, while having her coffee. ...helps her digestion, or neck or something.. Personally, I like standing and/or walking while working too. I think better, it feels like. I like walking meetings, especially if we're going to be schem…

True, but anecdotal data are also useful. I came to this thread to see what a bunch of other deep thinkers think about standing desks and if they have any stories to tell. For my part, I made one some years ago, and have found it to be invaluable, not because of the standing, but because it's uncomfortable to stand but not distractingly so, which keeps me moving around a bit and shifting positions and taking short breaks while I work. Although the same is true about sitting down at a desk, but it's easier to do these with a standing desk which encourages me to do them more often than when I'm sitting.

Re: Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

#82

Post by savanaly »

jm__87 wrote: post #69
netcan wrote: post #68

You know what the problem with problems is? I'll tell you the problem with problems... :) Imagine Jules. Jules likes to put her laptop on the counter and work standing for an hour after lunch, while having her coffee. ...helps her digestion, or neck or something.. Personally, I like standing and/or walking while working too. I think better, it feels like. I like walking meetings, especially if we're going to be schem…

Thanks. I stopped reading the article here: > Research, however, suggests that warnings about sitting at work are overblown, and that standing desks are overrated as a way to improve health. Who cares what research says. If someone says it helps them and they prefer it to sitting, that is enough proof for me.

By that logic, I guess homeopathy is also perfectly proven as effective?

Re: Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

#83

Post by PascLeRasc »

rootusrootus wrote: post #61
AstralStorm wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm waiting for the desks with integrated threadmill and bicycle. Ooof, apparently no one wants sweaty and loud coworkers.

Treadmill desks are already a Thing. Haven't seen one in a big corporate office, yet, however.

Ironically, the NYT has one: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/04/technology/personaltech/t...

Re: Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

#84

Post by jboy55 »

dymk wrote: post #45
Cacti wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is your point? You criticize the author for claiming there is no evidence that standing desks improve health, yet you provide absolutely no evidence to the contrary.

That’s not how the burden of proof works. The author claims that they’re “overrated”, yet doesn’t provide evidence to support that claim. We shouldn’t be so used to headlines not matching up with article content, but then again, it’s 2018.

I think he does provide enough evidence. He provides studies that show no difference between sitting and standing in regards to cardiovascular health.

He even provides an alternate hypothesis, that 'sitting' is a marker of poor health decisions not the cause of it.

I'm not sure what evidence you are looking for?

Re: Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

#86

Post by [deleted] »

savanaly wrote: post #82
jm__87 wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks. I stopped reading the article here: > Research, however, suggests that warnings about sitting at work are overblown, and that standing desks are overrated as a way to improve health. Who cares what research says. If someone says it helps them and they prefer it to sitting, that is enough proof for me.

By that logic, I guess homeopathy is also perfectly proven as effective?

[deleted]

Re: Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

#87

Post by [deleted] »

savanaly wrote: post #82
jm__87 wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks. I stopped reading the article here: > Research, however, suggests that warnings about sitting at work are overblown, and that standing desks are overrated as a way to improve health. Who cares what research says. If someone says it helps them and they prefer it to sitting, that is enough proof for me.

By that logic, I guess homeopathy is also perfectly proven as effective?

[deleted]

Re: Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

#88

Post by jboy55 »

mistersquid wrote: post #65

Because I disagreed with the conclusions of the article, I submitted this article to the HN community for assessment. Many of the responses here call into question the article's apparent position, especially as regards its inflammatory title, and these responses reflect my own opinion and experience. I expressed my objections as a comment to the article, reproduced here for convenience. [0] > I've been a long distanc…

The article that you are commenting on specifically states that standing desks aren't an improvement for cardiovascular health. The article also states that standing desks can help ergonomic issues.

The article you posted shows that a standing desk can help ergonomic issues, it doesn't mention cardiovascular health.

Re: Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

#89

Post by jboy55 »

cletus wrote: post #26
antoineMoPa wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read this exact part. Who does not suffer back pain after hours of sitting? If it does not hurt, does it mean it is still good to be sitting all the time? no. The author sounds like back pain is not a typical problem and that exercise is a huge part of the reason people use standing desks.

Who doesn't? Me, for a start. I've honestly never understood the standing desk thing. I mean if it alleviates back pain or just makes you happy, sure. Why not? It's not a given that everyone suffers back or neck pain from sitting though.

Raises hand, another one who's back doesn't hurt while sitting.

Re: Why Standing Desks Are Overrated

#90

Post by jboy55 »

PascLeRasc wrote: post #80

In case anyone wants a different position on standing desks from another NYTer: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/04/technology/personaltech/t...

That's a treadmill desk...

I really think this comment section is just people reading the article as "Standing desks are bad" and posting any positive thing about standing desks.

The article is, "Standing desks, by themselves, (no treadmill), provide no cardiovascular benefit. In terms of cardiovascular health, sitting maybe a marker not a cause."

That is, people who sit 12 hours a day on average, typically don't exercise and have poor cardio health. Simply standing instead of sitting won't help that, you have to exercise.

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