Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHealth BenefitsWeight LossHow to UseThe Right EquipmentSafety ConsiderationsWho Should Avoid It?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Health Benefits
Weight Loss
How to Use
The Right Equipment
Safety Considerations
Who Should Avoid It?
Americans spend a significant portion of their day sitting at work, which can lead to adverse health effects like increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and back and neck pain.
Working at a desk is not an option for most, but walking on a treadmill while working might be. Using an under-the-desk treadmill at your workstation is one way to counter the negative health effects of sitting at a desk all day.
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There are many potential health benefits of using a treadmill desk while working, including:
What Happens to the Body After Sitting Down for Too Long?
Does Walking While Working Aid in Weight Loss?
One study found that people who used a treadmill desk while working experienced greater weight and body fat loss than those not using a treadmill desk.
The amount of calories you burn while walking on a treadmill depends on several factors, such as speed, time spent walking, distance walked,incline(not recommended for desk treadmills), and body weight. You can use an onlinecalculator toolto estimate your calories burned.
If your goal is weight loss, it’s essential to consider your diet alongside physical activity. Combining diet and exercise is a more effective weight loss strategy than adjusting your dietary pattern or exercise habits alone.
How to Use a Treadmill Desk
Finding the Right Equipment for You
If you’re looking for a treadmill workstation, consider purchasing an under-the-desk treadmill instead of a traditional one. Traditional treadmills have consoles and handrails that can make it challenging to configure a workstation safely. Using one while working can also lead to poor posture and cause neck and back pain.
In addition, traditional exercise treadmills aren’t made to be used for many hours at slow speeds—doing so could burn out the motor.
Consider the following when choosing a treadmill workstation:
Walking while you’re paying attention to your work tasks could affect your balance, leading to injury from a trip or fall. As with any new exercise, check with a healthcare provider about any concerns before walking on a treadmill while working.
To reduce the risk of injury, follow these tips:
Treadmill desks are not for everyone. Avoid using a treadmill desk (or check with a healthcare provider) if you have any of the following:
Summary
Treadmill desks offer potential health benefits, such as more energy, decreased blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, improved mood, weight loss, and better-managed blood sugar levels.
When choosing a treadmill desk, it’s important to pick one that is appropriate for your height and weight and meets your needs for work tasks. Start slowly—walk at a leisurely pace and gradually build up the time you spend walking. As with any new activity, check with a healthcare provider to ensure a treadmill desk is right for you.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Clark JE.Diet, exercise or diet with exercise: comparing the effectiveness of treatment options for weight-loss and changes in fitness for adults (18-65 years old) who are overfat, or obese; systematic review and meta-analysis.J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2015;14:31. doi:0.1186/s40200-015-0154-1.Scisco JL, Meyers E, Miceli A, Powell J.“It’s Been a Game Changer”: examining treadmill desk use when working from home.Occup Health Sci. 2023. 28:1-22. doi: 10.1007/s41542-023-00144-0Oye-Somefun A, Azizi Z, Ardern CI, Rotondi MA.A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of treadmill desks on energy expenditure, sitting time and cardiometabolic health in adults.BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):2082. doi:10.1186/s12889-021-12094-9Start Standing.Intro to treadmill desks & working while walking.Stand Standing.The best treadmill desks of 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conditions & disabilities activity.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Clark JE.Diet, exercise or diet with exercise: comparing the effectiveness of treatment options for weight-loss and changes in fitness for adults (18-65 years old) who are overfat, or obese; systematic review and meta-analysis.J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2015;14:31. doi:0.1186/s40200-015-0154-1.Scisco JL, Meyers E, Miceli A, Powell J.“It’s Been a Game Changer”: examining treadmill desk use when working from home.Occup Health Sci. 2023. 28:1-22. doi: 10.1007/s41542-023-00144-0Oye-Somefun A, Azizi Z, Ardern CI, Rotondi MA.A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of treadmill desks on energy expenditure, sitting time and cardiometabolic health in adults.BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):2082. doi:10.1186/s12889-021-12094-9Start Standing.Intro to treadmill desks & working while walking.Stand Standing.The best treadmill desks of 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conditions & disabilities activity.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Clark JE.Diet, exercise or diet with exercise: comparing the effectiveness of treatment options for weight-loss and changes in fitness for adults (18-65 years old) who are overfat, or obese; systematic review and meta-analysis.J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2015;14:31. doi:0.1186/s40200-015-0154-1.Scisco JL, Meyers E, Miceli A, Powell J.“It’s Been a Game Changer”: examining treadmill desk use when working from home.Occup Health Sci. 2023. 28:1-22. doi: 10.1007/s41542-023-00144-0Oye-Somefun A, Azizi Z, Ardern CI, Rotondi MA.A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of treadmill desks on energy expenditure, sitting time and cardiometabolic health in adults.BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):2082. doi:10.1186/s12889-021-12094-9Start Standing.Intro to treadmill desks & working while walking.Stand Standing.The best treadmill desks of 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conditions & disabilities activity.
Clark JE.Diet, exercise or diet with exercise: comparing the effectiveness of treatment options for weight-loss and changes in fitness for adults (18-65 years old) who are overfat, or obese; systematic review and meta-analysis.J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2015;14:31. doi:0.1186/s40200-015-0154-1.
Scisco JL, Meyers E, Miceli A, Powell J.“It’s Been a Game Changer”: examining treadmill desk use when working from home.Occup Health Sci. 2023. 28:1-22. doi: 10.1007/s41542-023-00144-0
Oye-Somefun A, Azizi Z, Ardern CI, Rotondi MA.A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of treadmill desks on energy expenditure, sitting time and cardiometabolic health in adults.BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):2082. doi:10.1186/s12889-021-12094-9
Start Standing.Intro to treadmill desks & working while walking.
Stand Standing.The best treadmill desks of 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Conditions & disabilities activity.
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