Sitting is the New Smoking

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Recent studies have indicated that sitting for a long period of time can be associated with numerous health concerns including but not limited to diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure, and foggy brain. For employers and employees alike, this is nerve-racking considering the majority of us spend a good part of our work-day sitting at a desk. Even employees that exercise daily are still exposed to the health risks of excessive sitting! In fact, just two hours of sitting can have significant impacts on an employee’s health. Sitting for just two hours will raise blood sugar, reduce blood flow, and lower good cholesterol by 20%.

So what can employers and employees do to avoid excessive sitting in the workplace?
  • Encourage employees to start a walking club during lunch breaks, or before or after work; going for a brief walk at work helps employees to de-stress and increases productivity!
  • Encourage employees to wear a pedometer or Fitbit to inspire friendly competition   between coworkers and increase physical activity at work
  • Encourage employees to take the stairs instead of the elevator; seven minutes of stair climbing a day can halve the risk of heart attack over 10 years!
  • Invest in elevated desks; approximately 1,000 extra calories are burned each week from simply standing at your desk each afternoon!
  • Educate employees on how to sit with proper posture; sitting with upright posture leads to increased oxygen levels, improved mood, and reduced stress levels!

            Have questions about your employees’ health in the workplace? Call our office to speak with a human resource professional about your company’s policies at 631.794.7400 or write to us at info@compasswfs.com