"Kyphosis and Weight Gain... Negative Impact on Health"
"Improved Work Efficiency... Will Stand for Short Periods While Working"
A YouTuber conducted an experiment in which he spent five days standing without sitting in order to verify the common belief that standing is healthier than sitting.
Before (left) and after images of Lucas Ball, who conducted an experiment living without sitting for five days. YouTube capture
On May 10 (local time), the New York Post and other U.S. media reported that YouTuber Lucas Ball uploaded a video titled "I DID NOT SIT For An Entire Week" on his channel "pigme." In the video, Lucas spent 16 hours a day standing for five days. He even squatted over the toilet when using the bathroom and was careful not to let his hips touch the seat when getting into a car. He set a timer so that he could only lie down for eight hours of sleep each day during the experiment.
At the beginning of the experiment, Lucas said, "I felt full of energy and more focused," and was even seen doing strength training. However, these effects did not last long. Lucas soon noted, "After exercising and taking a shower, I felt extreme fatigue in my lower body."
By the third day of the experiment, abnormal symptoms began to appear. Lucas said, "I experienced severe pain in my legs and feet." He also explained, "I felt extreme hunger all day, so I tried to distract myself from the pain by eating constantly."
In the later stages of the experiment, Lucas appeared unable to stand upright any longer. He emphasized, "To keep standing, I had to lean on my desk, with my upper body slumped forward, which is definitely not a healthy posture." He added, "I felt pain in my hips, knees, and feet?more than just muscle soreness?and even while lying in bed, my legs hurt so much that I couldn't rest properly." Ultimately, he ended the experiment after five days.
After completing the experiment, Lucas compared photos taken before and after. His upper body was more hunched forward than before. He commented, "I think I developed kyphosis, and my lower body, including my hamstrings, became bulkier. I also gained 0.45 kg. Overall, it seems to have had a negative impact on my health."
Lucas also noted some positive aspects, saying, "I felt that my back pain was greatly reduced and my digestion improved. My work efficiency also increased. From now on, I plan to work standing for a few hours after starting my day, and then sit when I start to feel tired." However, experts warned, "Simply standing for long periods does not improve cardiovascular health and may actually place a burden on the circulatory system."
Meanwhile, in the December 2024 issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology, a research team published the results of a study involving 83,000 people who had experience working both sitting and standing. According to the study, sitting for more than 10 hours a day over a long period increased the incidence of heart disease by 13% and circulatory diseases by 26% over seven years. However, even without sitting, standing still for several hours increased the risk of orthostatic circulatory disorders, including orthostatic hypotension, varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, and venous ulcers. The study suggested that when working for long periods either sitting or standing still, it is important to engage in meaningful movement, such as walking or doing simple stretches every 30 minutes, to sufficiently activate the muscles.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
