Burning Calories at Your Desk

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

20 Sep 2008 10:34 PM

While most of us pack on the calories while working at our desks (the occasional cookie, donut, or an entire BLT sandwich) there are some companies that are actually helping employees burn calories while on the job.

A few weeks back I saw a report on ABC News about a Minneapolis law firm that has done away with traditional oak wood desk and leather chair combos and replaced them with treadmills and raised computer stands so employees can type and workout without leaving their cubicles.

The report also profiled a guy from Illinois who has adopted the same concept in his own home. He simply placed his computer monitor on a file cabinet and logs about five miles a day on a treadmill while working in his home office.

This workout idea dubbed "desk jockeying" is the brainchild of Dr. James Levine, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic. Levine wanted to incorporate extra movement into the routines of sedentary desk workers. His first model made back in 2003 consisted of sliding a bedside hospital tray over a treadmill.

These days companies such as Details offers work walkers a specially designed all-in-one treadmill desk. Studies show that since last November, about 335 Walkstations have been sold nationwide to companies including Humana, Mutual of Omaha, GlaxoSmithKline and Best Buy. Each unit costs about $4,000 and comes in a variety of laminate finishes with an ergonomically curved desktop. The treadmill is also tailored to aid work walkers in that it features a quieter motor designed for slow speeds.

According to Levine, the idea behind walking and working is not to go all out and break a sweat, rather the average employee walks at speeds slower than two miles an hour and burns roughly 120 calories per hour as a result.

Before you run out and invest in one of these Walkstations be warned--studies show that not everyone has the coordination to walk and work. While it doesn't take a ton of talent Levine says, "if you can't walk and chew gum at the same time, this may not be the workstation for you."

In addition, while work-walking is a way to burn some calories, if you're looking to lose serious weight walking on a treadmill at such a slow pace will not be enough to melt the pounds off.

Would you consider cranking out a report at the office on a Walkstation?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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