A systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that replacing sitting with standing could be a potential solution for a sedentary lifestyle to prevent weight gain in the long term. The analysis included 46 studies with 1184 participants. The mean difference in energy expenditure (EE) between sitting and standing was 0.15 kcal/min (0.1 and 0.19 kcal/min in women and men, respectively). Observational studies had a lower difference in EE (0.11 kcal/min) compared to randomized trials (0.2 kcal/min). By substituting sitting with standing for 6 hours/day, a 65 kg person will expend an additional 54 kcal/day. Assuming no increase in energy intake, this difference in EE would be translated into the energy content of about 2.5 kg of body fat mass in 1 year. The physiological basis of the incremental EE difference during standing is because during standing more muscles are tensed and stretched to fight gravity and bear the weight, although the benefits of the substitution of sitting with standing may not be limited to EE. Source: http://journals.sagepub.com
