Standing six hours a day cuts obesity risk

Standing for at least one-quarter of the day is linked to to 32 percent reduced likelihood of obesity, new research has found.

While sedentary behaviour (such as watching TV and commuting time) has been linked to negative health effects, it is unclear whether more time spent standing has protective health benefits.

To investigate further, a research team led by Kerem Shuval from American Cancer Society examined reported standing habits in relation to objectively measured obesity and metabolic risk among more than 7,000 adults between 2010 and 2015.

Specifically, the association between standing time and obesity was determined through three measures: body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and waist circumference.

The association between standing and metabolic risk was assessed via metabolic syndrome, a clustering of risk factors that increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

The study found that among men, standing a quarter of the time was linked to a 32 percent reduced likelihood of obesity (body fat percentage).

Standing half the time was associated with a 59 percent reduced likelihood of obesity. But standing more than three-quarters of the time was not associated with a lower risk of obesity.

In women, standing a quarter, half, and three quarters of the time was associated with 35 percent, 47 percent, and 57 percent respective reductions in the likelihood of abdominal obesity (waist circumference).

No relationship between standing and metabolic syndrome was found among women or men.

The study appeared in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.