What’s your reason for not working out?  For some, it’s an addiction to video games or television, while others simply find the entire sweating process, “icky”.  However, most reasons for avoiding physical exercise surround work schedules.  Whether you’re an executive for a major bank or a waitress working two jobs, it can be hard to deny the power of the almighty dollar.  However, soon there may be less reason to skip the gym, as development continues on a treadmill conducive to computer use.

While it won’t help the waitress, construction worker, or door-to-door salesperson (they get enough exercise, anyhow), the lounging cubicle creature can certainly benefit from the device.  Designed by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, the “walk-and-work” desk features a lockable workstation mounted atop a custom treadmill.  Keeping a steady pace, workers can continue logging sales figures and critical emails while burning fat.  Even more than a Wii Boxing workout, it seems.

Unexpectedly, participants in the treadmill-desk’s testing burned nearly three times the calories associated with sitting upon one’s duff at the average workstation.  The only criticisms point out the negative effects such exercise might have on the bones and joints of severely obese customers, although the benefits could certainly outweigh these concerns.

The treadmill desk (this thing sure is desperate for a decent name) should cost about $1,600, not much more than advanced machines sans working functionality.