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An active office could hold back the tide of type 2 diabetes

DCUK NewsBot

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With type 2 diabetes rates increasing each year, British researchers are looking for ways to revolutionise office working practices in a bid to stem the rises in incidence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. A number of recent research studies have highlighted the dangers to health posed by prolonged periods of sitting each day. Prolonged sitting is a national problem with recent surveys showing that many of us spend around 19 hours a day either sitting or lying down. Of the ideas being put forwards to tackle the issue, the sit-stand desk is one of the most feasible options. Sit-stand desks, which are already in use at Google's London offices, can be easily adjusted in height for either sitting or standing use. The idea of encouraging breaks in sitting is not entirely new and, in Denmark, employers must offer their staff the chance to use sit-stand desks. Taking things literally a number of steps further are active desks in which laptops are mounted upon treadmills, allowing workers to keep a gradual walking pace of 1 mph whilst going about normal computer based office tasks. Researchers at Loughborough University are studying the use of treadmills as a viable option for offices. Whilst the thought of walking whilst typing may seem awkward upon first thought, many of us are able to adapt well. It is not only offices in which the option of standing more is being introduced. The Born in Bradford research study, which is a collaboration between the NHS and researchers from a number of Yorkshire Universities, is trialling the use of sit-stand desk in the classrooms of Bradford's Grove House Primary School. Principal Research Fellow of the Project, Dr Sally Barber notes that periods of standing between periods of sitting can increase the number of calories burned, improve fitness levels and could enhance concentration as well decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life as well.

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I listened to a radio 4 programme about this the other day, where some office manager was extolling the virtues of walking meetings with colleagues. So, if I was discussing a complex issue with, say, 4 colleagues, we'd chunder around the workplace, car park, park or street maybe while we talked and listened. We'd probably need umbrellas, or, if we were inside, we'd need to consider the quality of the flooring after multiple meetings. Also, we'd get good at typing or dictating as we walked because we'd presumably arrive at some conclusions/decisions during our walking meeting that would need recording or acting upon - or not. We'd get ever so fit and healthy, and less sedentary, and with our new found energy we could move some real mountains that need shifting.
 
Yeah, we have that kind of manager at our offices too.

They've never had to write down a list of 'To Dos' following a meeting, or write up notes, or do anything other than verbally follow things up (when/if they remember). So they can't imagine that anyone else might need facilities to do so.

I think the concept of typing while on treadmill is particularly priceless. Obviously never worked on two screens and several spreadsheets simultaneously then...
 
Good old Loughborough. "Keen on sport" as they say. Except before they start a campaign for office gymnastics they really ought to have some evidence that exercise is going to reduce the incidence of T2.

There seems to be a lot of this research going on by people who have a well meaning health idea for diabetes but who don't actually understand the evidence on its cause and effect. Or maybe it's just me.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
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