ONE interesting question to ask scientists who study health hazards is whether their research has led them to change their own behaviour. By that rule of thumb, Michael Jensen of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is worth heeding. A leading light in research on the health effects of too much sitting, he has started working at a treadmill desk (see "Workouts are no antidote to death by desk job").
Why? The emerging consensus from work by Jensen and others is that long periods of sitting down ? such as when watching TV or working at a desk ? are bad for your health regardless of how active you are at other times. Simply standing up, or walking gently on a treadmill, allows you to escape the effect. Hence the growing trend for "active" workstations and stand-up meetings. Desk jockeys take heed ? and their employers, too.
This article appeared in print under the headline "Stand up for your health"
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