Height-Adjustable Desks: Energy Expenditure, Liking, and Preference of Sitting and Standing

Breaking periods of sitting with standing may prevent chronic diseases and increase energy expenditure (EE). Sit-to-stand height adjustable desks may promote workplace standing, but workers have to be willing to stand for portions of the workday.

For studies 1 and 2, EE was measured during word processing while sitting in a chair and while standing. Subjects scored their liking of each posture and time they would be willing to work in each posture during an 8-hour workday. Study 2 included an intervention of replacing subjects' sitting desks with a height adjustable desk. Liking of and willingness to work in each posture were measured before and after the 12-month intervention.

EE was 7.5 kcal/h greater when standing than when sitting. Subjects liked sitting more than standing in study 1. In study 2, liking of postures did not differ or change across 12 months use of height adjustable desks. Perceived willingness to stand decreased from 4.5 h/d at baseline to 3.4 h/d after 12 months.

Standing rather than sitting increased EE by 7.5 kcal/h. Use of a height adjustable desk for 12 months did not alter the hedonic value of standing or sitting, which is promising for long-term increases in standing.