Want to lose weight? Here’s one way to do it: Walk on a treadmill instead of sitting down during work.
Yes, that’s right–the best way to lose weight may simply be switching out your chair for a treadmill.
But how many calories does it burn? Turns out it’s quite a lot, according to Dr. James Levine, author of Move a Little, Lose a Lot, who estimates you’ll burn up to 130 calories per hour. Space this out over a usual work day–an average of 8 hours–and you’re burning over 1000 calories.
“For many people, most of the working day is spent sitting in front of a computer screen,” says Levine. “If sitting computer-time were replaced by walking-and-working, energy expenditure could increase by 100 kcal/h. Thus, if obese individuals were to replace time spent sitting at the computer with walking computer time by 2–3 h/day, and if other components of energy balance were constant, a weight loss of 20–30 kg/year could occur.”
However, treadmill running at the office is now hitting headlines worldwide for an entirely different reason–doing so could improve your work performance.
The study, which was conducted in St. Paul, Minn., found that those who had mastered treadmill working–something that can take four to six months to accomplish–performed better when it came to working more efficiently and interacting with colleagues, says The Wall Street Journal.
“For tasks like solving problems or taking conference calls, a little bit of walking is useful because it means there’s more blood flow to the brain,” says Avner Ben-Ner, a University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management professor and author of the study. “You get more oxygen and it increases the ability to think.”
The yearlong study, which looked at how treadmill walking affected employees working in the finance sector in Minnesota, first asked the employees to set up a treadmill at their desks. They then asked them to continue using these treadmills for an extended period of time.
Although leaning how to work while walking on a treadmill proved difficult at first for these workers, after an adaption period of four to six months their productivity soared–resulting in better communication between colleagues and improved work performance.
However, Ben-Ner found that this type of exercise won’t fit all work environments–such as those requiring intense physical or mental concentration.
“This wouldn’t be very good for people who thread a needle for their jobs,” says Ben-Ner. “But everyone who does brain work knows that if you’re stumped or need fresh ideas, take a walk.”
What You Should Do
Work an office job? If your boss will allow it, consider replacing your office chair with a treadmill, set at a slow speed. Doing so could help you burn more than 1000 calories per day making weight loss a breeze–and upping your work productivity.
Readers: Would you try this “workout” at work?
Sources:
Treadmill Desks May Improve Job Performance – WSJ.com
How Many Calories Do You Burn Using a Treadmill Desk? – WorkWhileWalking.com
British Journal of Medicine Publishes Treadmill Desk Study – TrekDesk.com
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