On average Europeans sit for around seven hours every day. This trend towards increasingly sedentary lifestyles has led to a surge in a number of obesity related conditions, ranging from type 2 diabetes and hypertension to cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer.
Now, a new study, which was recently published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has taken this theory a step further and found that standing on your feet for just six hours a day can lead to 10kg in weight loss over a period of four years.
The researchers analysed data from 1,184 participants with an average age of 33 years old. Of the participants, 60 per cent were men and the people had an average body mass index of 24 kg/m2 and an average weight of 65kg.
The study found that when standing, people burn an average of 0.15 kcal each minute. Therefore, they concluded that standing for six hours each day would lead to burning 54 kcals each day. This is the equivalent of losing 2.5kg each year or 10kg in weight loss over a period of four years.
The participants in the study were standing still, which led to researchers suggesting that small movements when standing could result in further weight loss and health benefits.
The results led the lead author of the study, Professor Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, Chief of Preventive Cardiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, US, to call on people to avoid sitting for long periods. He added that, while standing is clearly preferable to sitting for long periods, regular exercise is the best way to ensure you stay a healthy weight.
