The Disadvantages of Non-Physical Jobs

The simple act of sitting at a desk all day could be harming your health.

Sitting at a desk all day may seem to be pretty easy on your body, but sedentary jobs put a serious strain on physical health. Many professions now require hour and after hour tied to the desk and glued to the computer with little motion past typing, moving a mouse or answering a phone. Letting nonphysical work take precedence over activity and exercise can produce many negative results.

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and diabetes often go hand in hand, and sedentary jobs contribute to both. As you sit still for hours on end, your body’s metabolism slows down. This can potentially cause weight gain, increased cholesterol and higher blood sugar. These kinds of results don’t take years of inactivity to build, either. In one study completed in Denmark, participants who decreased their average daily steps from between 10,000 and 6,000 down to 1,500 showed metabolic changes that suggested a decreased sensitivity to insulin after just two to three weeks.

Fatigue

Desk workers often battle serious fatigue at work, even though they’ve barely moved. This feeling of exhaustion is caused by poor blood circulation from sitting still too long. It may seem counterintuitive, but a good workout usually leaves you feeling energized. This is because you’ve gotten your blood flowing strongly throughout your body. Getting up and taking a walk around the office can do a lot more to help with that feeling or tiredness than soda or coffee, since you’ll avoid the post-caffeine crash.

Back Pain

Poor posture sitting at a desk for hours a day can cause back pain and serious discomfort. The British Chiropractic Association recommends that chairs be adjusted so that there is a slight slope from hips to knees and feet are flat on the ground. Eyes should be level with the top of the computer screen. Shoulder blades should rest against the back of the chair and elbows should be level with the surface of the desk. But even with these ideal conditions, it’s recommended that workers take a break at least every 40 minutes.

What to Do

Desk jobs are unlikely to go away, so workers who want to stay healthy will need to find ways to work around the pitfalls of this type of profession. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average American between 25 and 54 with children spends about 8.7 hours at work on work days.. This doesn’t leave much time for a major workout routine, but working lots of little breaks into your day at the office can be just as effective. Walk around the office as you mull over projects, use the stairs instead of the elevator and park at the back of the parking lot to work in lots of chances to get your blood flowing throughout the day.

References

• The Journal of the American Medical Association: Metabolic Responses to Reduced Daily Steps in Healthy Nonexercising Men
• British Chiropractic Association: Mind Your Posture: Computer Sense
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Time Use on an Average Work Day for Employed Persons Ages 25 to 54 with Children
• “Inc.”; Sitting Is Bad for You: What Can You Do About It at Work?; Eric Markowitz; May 2011
• “The Globe and Mail”; Sedentary Jobs Can Cost Employers Dearly; Rasha Mourtada; September 2011
• Betty Hardwick Center; Sedentary Jobs Helping to Drive Obesity Epidemic; Amanda Gardner; May 2011
• NPR; Sitting All Day; Worse For Your Than You Might Think; Patti Neighmond; April 2011