As science has increasingly exposed the dangers of sitting for long hours and failing to get regular physical activity, more health-oriented desk options have emerged. Let’s took at healthy desk types, including the standing, bike, treadmill, and lying desks.

Top health-focused desks

What are some alternatives to the standard office desk? Well, if you want to understand the alternative desk market, the trend has definitely been toward development of desks designed to boost wellness. Here are four of the most popular nonstandard desks:

Standing desks

This model of desk is compelling because the science is strong that getting off your feet is essential to health.

If you have to sit for long hours at work, unfortunately, that’s unhealthy. It increases your risks of numerous serious conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and obesity.

It also means you will probably not live as long, according to a shocking analysis by Alice Park in Time. “Sitting for more than three hours a day can cut two years off a person’s life expectancy, even if he or she exercises regularly,” she reports. “Watching TV for more than two hours a day can shorten life expectancy even further, by another 1.4 years.”

Bike Desks

The makers of the bike desk argue that they have the best possible solution, since they allow you to get more significant exercise to your legs throughout the day. Research from the University of Utah did find that bike desks are effective both in helping people lose weight and reducing their blood lipids.

Treadmill desks

A treadmilll desk is designed so that the work surface is above a treadmill. In other words, it combines the doctor recommendation to get to one’s feet with the federal guidelines on exercise. “Adults need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., brisk walking) every week,” notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lying desks

There’s even something called a lying desk that allows you to recline while working. These high-end desks move with you as you change positions. They are geared toward people who use computers excessively. It certainly sounds nice to be able to facilitate movement, which is very important for circulation and all-around health, as long as it doesn’t mean the person is never taking breaks.

Furniture & design expertise

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