As Culture of “Excessive Sitting” Leads to Growing U.S. Health Crisis, Regular Motion Throughout the Day is Recognized as Best Solution
Nashville, TN (PRWEB) July 31, 2012
Multiple reports over the past several weeks point to the American “couch potato” lifestyle as a pandemic, claiming over 5 million lives every year. Any extended sitting – at a desk, in front of the television or behind the wheel – threatens our physical well being in multiple ways that even occasional trips to the health club cannot significantly offset. The solution, according to many researchers, is to sit less and move more every day.
“The goal of every American should be to introduce physical activity to all of the sedentary things that threaten our health – like watching television, surfing the net or playing video games,” says Ryan Moore, co-founder of the company that created FitDesk, a lightweight exercise bike that allows users to work on a laptop, surf the internet, correspond via email or otherwise work while enjoying the healthy benefits of an active lifestyle.
Moore references a string of studies that support his assertion, including one Australian study that found for every hour we sit at our desks or in front of the television, our risk of death from cardiovascular diseases increases by 18 percent. He also points to a recent recommendation from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that people should engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week to combat the health risks of inactivity.
“When we spend most of our waking hours sitting at our desks, the central nervous system slows down, which leads to fatigue,” Moore said. Our muscles weaken and our joints stiffen, putting us at risk for back and joint pain. Our blood sugar and blood fat levels are negatively affected, which can contribute to multiple long-term health problems.”
He continued: “If we can make the cultural change to add a moderate amount of activity to those times when we traditionally sit for extended periods, the potential impact to our health as a society is quite significant.”
Seeking to create a work environment that allowed steady motion, Mr. Moore and his partner, both cycling enthusiasts, designed and produced the FitDesk as an ideal merger of health and productivity. Sturdy, compact and lightweight, the FitDesk holds a laptop, tablet or reading materials on a padded surface in a stable, ergonomic position for easy working. The unit is fully adjustable for comfort, offers variable resistance for any fitness level and quickly folds for easy storage
According to Moore, regular, moderate use of the FitDesk can burn an average of 2,000 calories per week, while building muscle and cardiovascular strength.
“You probably won’t train for the Tour de France on a FitDesk,” Moore said, “but you will add steady movement to what are otherwise hours of inactivity. You will burn calories, put your cardiovascular system back to work for you and make a meaningful difference in your overall health and well being.”
Moore added that FitDesk has quickly attracted a growing fan base among a diverse audience.
“We regularly hear from enthusiastic FitDesk users, and they include a great many people who work from home, as well as corporate employees who have built FitDesk into their office environments. We have one customer who uses FitDesk to help ease the symptoms of multiple sclerosis while she works and a future attorney who is successfully battling a significant weight loss challenge while studying for the bar exam. We also hear from parents who only allow their children to play video games while they are on the FitDesk, thereby teaching the importance of activity at an early age. Our users represent all levels of fitness, but share a dedication to lifelong wellness,” he said.
FitDesk has sold thousands of units, and Moore says his company is seeing acceleration in sales as more Americans are working to combat the effects of excessive sitting.
Additional information on FitDesk is available at http://www.FitDesk.net or by phoning 615-669-9004.
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