Design Innovation — Walk While You Work and Lose Weight

Author's own "hand made" walking desk. The author walks eight hours a day while working.Dr. James Levine’s Concept of a Treadmill Workstation May Not be a Patent-Pending Money Miracle, But the Concept Pays Off for Companies Seeking Productivity

Correspondent Derek Armstrong

Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic invented the "Treadmill Desk” to help the one third of Americans estimated to be obese. In various studies, obesity can drive health care costs up by as much as $100 billion per year. Walking away the pounds only makes sense.

“If sitting is to blame,” Dr. Levine said, “then standing has to be the solution.” Dr. Levine proposed that a slow walk – while at work on a “standing/ walking desk” – at no more than 1 mph could result in 40 pounds or more in weight loss per year, together with substantial health and cardiovascular fitness benefits. The upside also included increased productivity, lowered depression and less downtime for employees.

Some interesting facts from Dr. Levine’s findings:
• Standing on the job (without walking) burns an extra 20 calories an hour over sitting
• 60 minutes on a treadmill at 1 mph burns 100-130 calories per hour, or 700 calories per average work day
• A year of walking desk work might translate into a loss of 40 lbs a year, plus increased fitness.
By keeping the speed at 1 mph, Dr. Levine can “spend my entire work day at 1 mph” without breaking a sweat or getting out of breath.

Unfortunately, the concept might not be a money maker, even though Steelcase immediately developed the concept with Dr. Levine. The initial cost is an obstacle, although not when weighed against health benefits, and, of course, many people are making their own, including this correspondent.