The official term is "nonexercise activity thermogenesis," and it is known informally as NEAT. What it means is burning calories through normal "nonexercise" daily activities, such as walking, wiggling, and fidgeting. This piece in the Boston Globe reports on research showing that it works quite well, even when it’s not intended, and that lean people are in some kind of mundane motion an average of 150 more
minutes per day than their obese counterparts, who burn 350 fewer
calories. To help people take advantage of that observation, Dr. James Levine, a Mayo Clinic obesity researcher in Rochester, Minn, has rigged his desk so he could walk on a treadmill as he works on his computer. The Globe reports that Levine also created a track around the perimeter of meeting rooms so
meetings can be held on foot instead of seated at a table. Now, the Globe reports, Levine is working with companies to develop a treadmill desk that could be mass-produced. Until it is, Geezer says, keep on fidgeting. For more on how many calories are burned by different activities, including sex, read this.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Thursday, October 16, 2025
The WalkStation I have been reading about works but at $6500, it better. The concept is simple really. We are built to walk, not sit. Combine that with all the medical studies showing that walking reduces your chances of contracting just about every major health ailment it is a no brainer
We should be doing a lot more walking. But when? Who has the time? That is the beauty of a treadmill desk. I found one at http://www.trekdesk.com called the TrekDesk that will be much more affordable and even incorporates an exercise ball chair so you don’t need an additional desk and chair in your office. Cool!