A friend recently lost a bunch of a weight (like 40+ pounds) by buying one of these. I have to admit, I've been tempted, even though it's ridiculously expensive and I already have a non-desk treadmill. In its defense, the NY Times blogs had yet another piece about how bad sitting at your desk is for you:
But it looks as though there’s a more sinister aspect to sitting, too. Several strands of evidence suggest that there’s a “physiology of inactivity”: that when you spend long periods sitting, your body actually does things that are bad for you.
As an example, consider lipoprotein lipase. This is a molecule that plays a central role in how the body processes fats; it’s produced by many tissues, including muscles. Low levels of lipoprotein lipase are associated with a variety of health problems, including heart disease. Studies in rats show that leg muscles only produce this molecule when they are actively being flexed (for example, when the animal is standing up and ambling about). The implication is that when you sit, a crucial part of your metabolism slows down.
Very interesting story, I highly recommend reading it all.
It really is a great story! This concept is getting a great deal of interest especially since most of us are becoming painfully aware of the health hazards of our current lifestyles.
The idea of walking while working or performing other tasks, sometimes called a walkstation, is gaining popularity everyday and there are other alternatives that are much more reasonable.
Posted by: Billyum | February 27, 2010 at 10:30 PM