Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: katieHaylor on 04/05/2018 09:46:29
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Jim asks:
What is the best way to stay healthy in a sedentary office job?
Can you help?
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Buy a standing desk - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/sitting-new-smoking
The above interview was recorded as part of the programme "Fighting Fat with Science", which looks at a range of evidence-based strategies to lose weight and keep in trim (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-scientists/fighting-fat-science).
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You could go extreme, and get a hamster-wheel desk...
But more conveniently, you could go for a walk at lunch time, or walk to the train station.
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Do as Evan says. Go for a walk at lunchtime.
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To add to that rather glib statement, eat unprocessed foods. Salad, raw vegetables and fruit. Processed foods make much more energy available and are usually devoid of fibre.
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American writer AJ Jacobs wrote an entertaining journal of his quest to become the most healthy man in the world: From his Wikipedia entry, "His most recent book is Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection (2012) in which he explores different ways humans can bring their bodies to peak health, from diet to exercise.[3] He wrote the book while walking on a treadmill.[20] Jacobs gave a related TED talk about this health quest entitled “How Healthy Living Nearly Killed Me"
I bought the book and was amused at the revelations he shared, including the fact that writing a book on health is one of the most un-healthy activities you can do. He wrote most of this book while walking on a treadmill with his laptop computer taped to the machine and a cellular phone attached to an elastic cord so he could strengthen his arm muscles while talking. Over the 2 years spent writing of his adventure, he tried many health fads as well as consulted with many medical experts and personal trainers. I call it the best book on health not written by a medical doctor or our-of-work celebrity.
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Interesting and helpful discussion! I like the walk and standing desk suggestion. I've also been doing active hip and pelvis stretches first thing in the morning to help loosen up and it has definitely helped.
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This is the problem of modern life. Staying healthy can be difficult in the best of circumstances. Those who sit at the table for 8, 10, 12 hours a day, there is an even more difficult task. A truly healthy life combines many things: from eating to getting enough exercise, maintaining a healthy mind. Ignoring any aspect of good health can undermine your health.
Take short breaks so you can focus and help feel mentally and physically exhausted after work. You will get more work and more energy to stay active when you are not at the table.
Pass the elevators and climb the stairs.
It will be difficult if you are at your desk all day. So skip the elevators and go down the stairs. Park in a location farther from your office. Take the "scenic" route when going to your table. And find as many additional steps as you can during the day.
Moving in the office can be difficult, so it's important to take advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself. Conference calls and phone calls can be a vital aspect of many companies in this age of technology. Take the opportunity to get out of the table and take a walk. Move. Stretch. If you do not need to sit and take notes, this is the ideal time for 20-30 minutes of traffic every day.