Multi-Tasking Gone Wild

An obesity researcher at Mayo Clinic is coming up with ways to burn calories while we work. Link. Excerpts:

Sitting at their desks is about the last thing workers would do in Dr. James Levine's office of the future. Instead of being sedentary in front of their computers, they'd stand. But instead of standing still, they'd walk on a treadmill. And instead of meeting around a conference table, they'd talk business while walking laps on a track. . .

Levine is a leading researcher of NEAT - short for ``non-exercise activity thermogenesis'' - the calories people burn during everyday activities such as standing, walking or even fidgeting.

A recently published study he led showed that thin people are on their feet an average of 152 more minutes a day than couch potatoes. Levine was brainstorming ways to address that 2 1/2-hour NEAT deficit a few months ago when he had the idea for the "ultimate office makeover.'' . . .

The makeover was relatively cheap. Levine says the 10 workstations cost about $1,000 each - about half the cost of a cubicle - and remodeling the space cost about $5.50 per square foot.

Those who don't feel like standing can always pull up a tall stool to work on their computers, he said, but the environment "sends you this message of 'Walking is the norm. Being upright is the norm.'''

We're all for it. We've never seen why people will pay hundreds/ thousands of dollars for a gym membership, but then decline to walk a mile to work or ride their bike to the store. Fat-burning exercise can be found in everyday things, thus leaving time for more important activities (prayer, reading, beer drinking).

Now, if the NEAT folks can find a way to exercise while blogging, Eric Scheske will be on the front cover of Muscle and Fitness.