Researchers in Australia surmise that standing can improve your blood sugar, fats in the blood, and cholesterol levels.

“We found that time spent standing rather than sitting was significantly associated with lover levels of blood sugar and blood fats. Replacing sitting time with stepping was also associated with a significant reduction in waistline and BMI,” says Dr. Genevieve Healy, senior research fellow at the School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Australia.

In a study that consisted of 782 men and women between the ages of 36-80, participants’ activity was continuously monitored around the clock for a seven day period. Everything from time spent sleeping to sitting and laying down to time standing was recorded.

Researchers concluded that an extra two hours daily spent standing was linked to a two percent lower average for fasting blood sugar levels and a 11 percent lower average for triglycerides.

Source: European Society of Cardiology