Healthy at Work - Physical activity

Many adults do a job where they are sitting down all day. Inactivity has major health consequences - including obesity, coronary heart disease and certain forms of cancer - and in England is estimated to cost the wider economy £8.2 billion per year.

The majority of people in the UK need to exercise more and the easiest way of doing this is to make physical activity part of our daily routine - and this includes what we do at work. Being active during breaks, or active travel to and from work can all help people add active minutes to their day.

The benefits of a physically active workforce:

• Physical activity can protect against a range of lifestyle disease including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stress, anxiety, osteoporosis and low back pain
• Physical activity can help people to manage stress, back pain, weight and medical conditions
• Active people report less illness and recover from illness more quickly
• Employees who are physically active report greater enjoyment in their work, increased concentration and mental alertness and improved rapport with colleagues

5 easy steps an employer can take:

• Promote alternatives to driving to or for work
• Involve employees in organising a workplace activity programme to encourage employees to be more active both in and outside working hours
• Make the stairwells more attractive and use signage to encourage use of stairs rather than lifts
• Provide information on the benefits of physical activity
• Consider negotiating discounted membership of a local gym for employees, and supporting activity or sports programmes in and outside the workplace

For further information, please see:

• |more card scheme - save money and keep fit
• |A guide to developing a workplace health activity programme and examples of activities on the British Heart Foundation website
• |The Walking the Way to Health initiative
• |Cycle Friendly Employers website
• |Information about company travel plans
• |The Sport England website
• |Information about healthy activities in the local area