Standing Desks Are Trendy, But Do They Really Help You Lose Weight? Not So Much.
Researchers found that standing as opposed to sitting burns a whopping 54 extra calories for a six-hour day. However, studies do show that people who have standing desks tend to move more during the day, which wasn't accounted for in the study.
Los Angeles Times:
This Is How Many Pounds You Can Lose In A Year By Standing For Six Hours A Day Instead Of Sitting
Brace yourself: The calorie-burning benefits of standing versus sitting will not, at first blush, blow you out of your seat. Spend a minute upright instead of seated, and the additional energy expended amounts to less than one-tenth of a calorie (0.04 of a calorie, to be exact). But a new study that combines the best available research on sitting, standing and energy expenditure invites readers (reclining and otherwise) to consider the potential long-term effects of this seemingly marginal difference. (Healy, 1/31)
In other public health news —
San Jose Mercury News:
Coffee May Come With Cancer Warning Label In California
A lawsuit filed by the Council for Education and Research on Toxics in 2010 wants to require coffee sellers, including Starbucks, BP, Gloria Jean’s and 7-Eleven, to warn customers about the dangers ingesting acrylamide, as Time reports, a possibly cancer-causing chemical that’s produced when coffee beans are roasted. Under the state’s Proposition 65, businesses are required to notify customers if their products contain any of 65 chemicals, including acrylamide, that are linked with cancer, birth defects or other reproductive issues. (D'Souza, 1/31)
San Jose Mercury News:
Pizza Is Actually A Healthier Breakfast Than Cereal.
In a boon to college students and hungover people everywhere, some nutrition experts are now saying that pizza is actually healthier for you for breakfast than that box of cereal you grew up with. As Newsweek reports, registered dietitian Chelsey Amer told food website The Daily Meal that a slice of the traditional late night snack can actually be a smarter meal than your typical bowl of cereal. (D'Souza, 1/31)