Office workers have been given something new to worry about. According to a major study published in The Lancet recently, sitting for eight hours a day can increase the risk of premature death by up to 60 per cent. In fact, it’s likely to be the cause of more deaths than obesity.
The study’s lead scientist, professor Ulf Ekelund of Cambridge University, is urging all desk workers to stand up and take a five-minute break every hour, and to support this with one hour of brisk walking or cycling every day. Ideally activity should be spread throughout the day.
Leading by example
Some of the world’s most progressive companies are already taking steps to counter workplace inactivity. Red Bull has slides and ping pong tables in meeting rooms, Google has a gym and a 90m indoor running track and Microsoft has treadmill desks.
But is that enough? Health experts argue that a new mindset is needed: networking while working out, for example – dubbed ‘sweatworking’ – and meetings that involve all participants standing or even walking.
A few companies are already doing this, especially in the US. Chicago-based company aSweatLife.com hosts monthly networking events called #Sweatworking, where networking and exercise come together. Meanwhile 321Launch has partnered with health and fitness operators like Barry’s Bootcamp and SoulCycle for business meetings.
At Les Mills UK, staff have the option of taking part in classes run throughout the day in its studio, or doing a Les Mills On-Demand virtual session at any time. All visitors are invited to take part too.
“The biggest battle for activity is within the industry,” says Martin Franklin, CEO of Les Mills UK. “If the people working in the fitness sector don’t get the value of activity for personal wellbeing, how can we ever hope to impact the lives of the rest of the population? We don’t insist they do a workout here with us, but if they don’t, we ask them – in an honour system – to work out in the next 24 hours.”
So will momentum gather in favour of more active offices? We ask the experts.
