Exploring the relationship between prolonged standing and prolonged sitting at work and heart disease among male and female workers
Reasons for the study
While a growing body of research is examining the impacts of prolonged occupational sitting on cardiovascular and other health risk factors, relatively little work has examined the effects of prolonged occupational standing. This study aimed to fill this gap, with a focus on differing health risks among male and female workers.
Objectives of the study
- To examine the relationship between on-the-job body postures (i.e. sitting, standing, walking and other positions) and the incidence of heart disease among men and women over a 12-year period in Ontario
- To contribute evidence to an umbrella project on developing an evidence base on sex/gender differences in the relationship between working conditions on injury risk, chronic illness and return to work
Featured content
Related research summaries
- Examining the link between leisure-time exercise and physically demanding work on diabetes risk . Research Highlights: Institute for Work & Health, April 2021.
- Prolonged standing on the job associated with higher risk of heart disease than prolonged sitting. Research Highlights: Institute for Work & Health, September 2017.
Related scientific publications
- Biswas A, Smith PM, Alter DA. Is promoting six hours of standing an appropriate public health message?. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2018;25(7):751-752. doi:10.1177/2047487318763430.
- Smith PM, Huiting M, Glazier RH, Gilbert-Ouimet M, Mustard C. The relationship between occupational standing and sitting and incident heart disease over a 12-year period in Ontario, Canada. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2018;187(1):27–33. doi:10.1093/aje/kwx298. (Open access)
Related interviews and articles
- Emerging evidence points to negative health effects of physical work demands . At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 105, Summer 2021.
- Sitting or standing too much at work? New video addresses ways to lower associated health risks. Safety + Health. December 27, 2018. Available from: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17906-sitting-or-standing-too-much-at-work-new-video-addresses-ways-to-lower-associated-health-risks
- Standing too long at work carries twice the risk of heart disease as sitting too long. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 90, Fall 2017.
- Study on prolonged standing and heart disease: Setting the record straight. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 90, Fall 2017.
- No, a standing desk isn't as unhealthy as smoking. The Guardian: Guardian News and Media (London). September 21, 2017. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/science/sifting-the-evidence/2017/sep/21/no-a-standing-desk-isnt-as-unhealthy-as-smoking
- If you stand for too long at work, you could double your risk of this disease. Reader's Digest. September 15, 2017. Available from: https://www.rd.com/health/conditions/standing-increases-risk-heart-disease-study/
- Standing too much at work can double your risk of heart disease. The Conversation. September 11, 2017. Available from: https://theconversation.com/standing-too-much-at-work-can-double-your-risk-of-heart-disease-83629
- Standing all day is twice as bad as sitting for your heart. Runner's World: Hearst Communications (Emmaus, PA). August 24, 2017. Available from: https://www.runnersworld.com/sweat-science/standing-all-day-is-twice-as-bad-as-sitting-for-your-heart
- Too much standing is bad, study finds — it's time to move. CBC: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Toronto, ON). August 18, 2017. Available from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/standing-sitting-work-move-1.4252006
Project status
Completed 2017