OFFICE workers are being urged to get to their feet today in an effort to overcome the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle.

The campaign Get Britain Standing, which is holding its first On Your Feet Britain day, says sitting for hours on end can harm the health even of people who are otherwise active.

Gavin Bradley, founder of the campaign, told the Daily Echo: “If you’re cycling to work but sitting at your desk for six hours a day and cycling home, you might as well be smoking in terms of the damage you’re doing to your body.

Campaigners say a sedentary working life means an increased risk of heart disease, back problems, cancer, obesity, type two diabetes, depression, dementia and muscle degeneration, even if you are otherwise active.

Among those backing the campaign is Lee Bolson, managing director of National Office Furniture Supplies, part of the Bournemouth-based Hallways Group “This campaign is very personal to me. I suffered a heart attack at the age of 45 and underwent a quadruple bypass operation even though I was fit, active and an ex-footballer so I’m all for supporting a healthy lifestyle, particularly at work,” he said.

“Simple activities such as standing during phone calls, using the stairs rather than lifts, conducting standing or walking meetings, eating lunch away from your desk and walking to colleagues’ desks instead of phoning or emailing them are all small steps that would make a big difference to health and wellbeing.”

A survey found 45 per cent of women and 37 per cent of men spend less than 30 minutes a day on their feet at work.

Alex Chisnall, owner of the Body Clinic brand of sports injury clinics and Not In The Gym Personal Training, is a partner in the campaign.

"Just by standing, your metabolism increases and as a direct result of that you will burn 50 calories an hour more than by just sitting,” he said.

“We also want to encourage companies to realise the benefits that increased productivity and reduced employee absenteeism brings when encouraging their employees to move more.

“At our body clinics at the Littledown Centre and Sandbanks Yacht Company we see more individuals year on year for issues directly related to a sedentary lifestyle. This includes lower back pain, neck pain, and sciatica. Whilst 90 per cent of people will recover from acute pain within six weeks, chronic pain for the remaining 10 per cent lasts 12 weeks or more.”