The average desk worker spends almost six hours a day sitting at a desk.

The break from sitting is usually for a trip to the water cooler or the copier. Sitting all day for years at a job contributes to chronic diseases, like obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

A quick trip to the gym after work doesn’t balance out the hours of sitting. The commute home, also spent sitting, may even be just as long as that workout at the gym.

Standing desks get desk workers on their feet. Standing burns up to 50 more calories per hour than sitting. It activates the metabolism. Most importantly, standing makes movement easier. Staying active at your standing desk is more beneficial than just standing all day.

Dr. John Higgins joins host Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the benefits of standing desks.