What is ‘office chair butt’? TikTok’s viral term for a real health problem

Rather than the Sunday scaries or toxic bosses, employees have unlocked a new workplace fear: office chair butt.

While not a new concern, the term has resurfaced on TikTok to describe how sitting for long stretches affects the look of your behind—what medical professionals call atrophy of your gluteal muscle group.

“A lack of conditioning in your gluteus maximus and surrounding tissue leads to weakness, making it build up fat tissue and appear flatter or saggy,” occupational therapist Michael Milicia told the Cleveland Clinic.

And it’s not just an aesthetic issue. Other symptoms of “office chair butt” can include poor posture, lower back pain, and limited mobility over time. There’s a reason researchers have dubbed sitting “the new smoking,” linking chronic sitting to serious health problems including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, and anxiety.

Now, the term has gone viral on TikTok. And they’re not taking it sitting down.

“I refuse to be a victim,” posted one TikTok user, showing the routine of squats, lunges, and standing leg lifts she performs at her desk. “I don’t think you’re in danger,” one person commented.

“No office chair butt for us,” another user posted, leading her coworkers through a series of exercises. The video quickly inspired others: “Just saw this while at work and immediately put my desk to standing,” read one comment.

Since most workplaces don’t come with a fully equipped gym, employees have gotten creative. Some use the office escalator as a makeshift StairMaster. One video shows an employee swapping out traditional weights for a water cooler while performing Bulgarian split squats. “Me every 30 minutes when I find out what office chair butt is,” another TikTok user wrote, running up and down stairs and doing laps around a conference room.

@krystinamaysonet

I REFUSE TO FALL VICTIM! sooo it’s actually a thing, I was legit shook. You won’t catch me sitting during a shift again 😭 #officelife #gymtok #officechair #playboycarti #fypシ #parati #lilyachty #future #glutesworkout

♬ som original – Trap Music Fun

If you’re reading this: Give me 10 squats. Stat.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91355743/what-is-office-chair-butt-tiktoks-viral-term-for-a-real-health-problem?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss

Creado 2mo | 20 jun 2025, 16:10:07


Inicia sesión para agregar comentarios

Otros mensajes en este grupo.

The British conspiracy guru building a sovereign micronation in Appalachia 

Matthew Williams has slept very little since he learned about Sacha Stone’s plan to build a “sovereign” micronation on 60 acres of land near his home in rural Tennessee. What began as a quic

11 ago 2025, 10:30:08 | Fast company - tech
These 4 phones will drastically reduce your screen time

Let’s be honest: Your phone is a jerk. A loud, demanding, little pocket-size jerk that never stops buzzing, dinging, and begging for your attention. It’s the first thing you see in the

11 ago 2025, 5:50:06 | Fast company - tech
This tool will help declutter your digital mess

This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps. 

11 ago 2025, 5:50:05 | Fast company - tech
This free email scam detector gives you the protection Gmail and Outlook don’t

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but email scams are getting surprisingly sophisticated.

We’ve had a handful of instances here at The Intelligence International Headquarters where we’ve h

9 ago 2025, 12:20:05 | Fast company - tech
You might want a VPN on your phone. Here’s how to get started

Interest in virtual private networks (VPNs) has surged in America and Europe this year. Countries on both sides of the Atlantic have recently enacted new age-verification laws designed to prevent

9 ago 2025, 9:50:05 | Fast company - tech
Instagram’s new location sharing map: how it works and how to turn it off

Instagram’s new location-sharing Map feature is raising privacy concerns among some users, who worry their whereab

8 ago 2025, 17:40:06 | Fast company - tech