Analysis: Inactivity comes at a dire cost, writes Ashley Gluchowski in The Conversation.
Lack of physical activity is deadly.
When activity ceases, Losing muscle strengthWhen muscle strength is lacking, More likely They experience a range of health problems, including cognitive decline, poor mental health, musculoskeletal disorders, falls and serious injuries. HospitalizationDeveloping diabetes, Heart diseasedementia, frailty, functional impairment, and even Some types of cancer.
The debilitating effects of a sedentary lifestyle place an unbearable burden on caregivers, Healthcare System.
Inaction comes at a dire cost. World Health Organization (WHO) Estimate costs Between 2020 and 2030, physical inactivity will cost the public health system around $300 billion. In 2022, the UK government plans to 1 in 6 The country’s death toll.
Historically, people Getting olderBut now, Young Peopleespecially, Seated work People who work in desk jobs tend to be less active, lose strength, and take more long periods of sick leave. Early retirement.
Sedentary work environment It can cause mental fatigue, pain and distress, Contributing Factors To Best ever Slowdown in economic activity in the UK.
Large employers with 1,000 or more employees: $4.2 million Absence from work due to illness every year.
Strength training is Most effective It is a type of exercise for mental and physical health, and is recommended by the WHO. Physical Activity Guidelines.
Unfortunately, strength training is also the physical activity people do least. Persist.
For desk workers, Take a break from strength training Exercises like bodyweight squats at your desk have been shown to instantly increase blood flow, improve brain function like mental alertness and focus, and reduce feelings of fatigue.
However, in my experience as a clinical exercise physiologist, people tend to think they are not young, healthy, energetic or active enough to start strength training.
However, research has shown that the opposite is true: Regardless of your age or fitness level, when you begin strength training, your energy levels increase and you feel more motivated. Physical activity.
Other barriers to starting strength training include lack of time, lack of expertise, and the comfortable space of a commercial gym. [exacerbated for women] People who are likely to assume caregiving responsibilities I have very little time Focus on strength training for health.
So, knowing the importance of strength and strength training, and the barriers that hold people back from participating, why are we failing to address the global challenge of increasing physical activity levels? Why is there a lack of programs that are successful in real-world settings?
my Latest Research It was found that people in the 40-60 age group are aware of the benefits of building muscle and participating in strength training, but lack the practical know-how to participate.
They asked for more support on where to find the detailed information they needed to feel confident enough to start strength training.
Currently, they have to Google it and hope that the information they find is based on reliable evidence. Study participants also felt there was a missed opportunity to provide strength training support in the workplace.
Maintaining a healthy workforce
Do employers think that simply handing out free gym passes as part of employee benefits will somehow overcome the time (and childcare) barriers people face when trying to get to the gym after work, and the barriers of what to do once they get there?
Employers need to do more if they want to avoid the consequences of a sedentary working environment. They can’t wait until people are in a health crisis before intervening. They need to offer proactive, practical support to help people look after their health at work.
It makes sense that employers would want to provide employees with the time and space to do strength training during work hours.
This could mean hiring an exercise physiologist or strength-training coach for the office or using technology to deliver virtual, on-demand strength-training sessions to employees working from home. Programs can also gamify participation to increase camaraderie within departments and across companies.
What’s more, developing this healthy habit now More likely to lead More and more people are continuing the habit into retirement, aiming to stay stronger, more active, more independent and healthier longer.
Providing 30 minutes of strength training support twice a week seems like a small sacrifice that can help create a healthier, happier, more productive, more resilient workforce.
If you’re looking for the easiest way to simultaneously improve physical activity levels, health, and office culture, look no further. Implementing strength training at work seems like a really strong investment to me.
– Ashley Gluchowski is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) and Certified Specialty Population Specialist (NSCA-CSPS).
This article is reprinted from conversation Under a Creative Commons license.
