- Wednesday 27 September is the UK’s seventh National Fitness Day to encourage more people to be more active more often.
- With employees racking up an average of nine hours sitting-time a day, employers have a key role to play in enabling and supporting an active workforce.
- AXA Health is urging employers at organisations of all sizes to help their employees get National Fitness Day off to a Flying Start by pushing back the working day by one hour, enabling them to do something active.
AXA Health is partnering with ukactive, a not-for-profit body committed to improving the health of the UK, as workplace sponsor of National Fitness Day.
Wednesday 27 September will see over a million people of all ages and abilities celebrate the fun of fitness and physical activity at 20,000 free events in leisure centres, parks, high streets and schools across the UK. And, with previous research by AXA Health revealing that workers in Britain who use a chair during some or most of their working day rack up an average of nine hours sitting-time a day¹ – tantamount to a UK flight to the Caribbean – employers have a key role to play in getting the nation moving.
It’s no secret that excessive sitting has been linked to health risks including obesity, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.² What’s more, musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain and neck and upper limb problems – often associated with sedentary office-based desk jobs – accounted for 30.8million working days lost in 2016.³ However, studies suggest 60 to 75 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per day can eliminate the increased risk of early death associated with sitting for long periods.4
That’s why AXA Health is urging employers from businesses of all sizes to help their employees get National Fitness Day off to a Flying Start by pushing back the working day by one hour to enable them to do something active.
We’re thrilled to be the workplace sponsor of National Fitness Day. Busy work schedules and family commitments can mean it’s hard to make time to exercise. But the health benefits of being physically active can pay dividends, such as lowering levels of stress and boosting energy, for employees and employers alike. Through Flying Start, employers can show their commitment to supporting an active workforce and we’re delighted that many organisations have already signed up to take part.
National Fitness Day is all about highlighting the simple steps people can take to become more physically active in ways they enjoy. Physical inactivity is the asbestos of the 21st Century, wreaking havoc in the workplace – harming bottom lines through ill health, low productivity and high absenteeism. It's storing up a vast number of lifestyle related diseases for employees later in life. That’s why we're delighted that AXA Health is the workplace sponsor for National Fitness Day, helping to highlight the benefits of a more active workforce and encouraging employers to make regular movement a staple part of the working day.
Whether it’s a static bike challenge bringing together employees at different offices, having a more active commute by walking part or all of the way, or joining a yoga class at the local gym, there are lots of ways for employers to get their teams involved.
Find out more about how to get your team off to a Flying Start and sign up to take part. Join the conversation using #MyFlyingStart.
¹ Online survey of 2,007 UK employees who use a chair during some or most of their working day, undertaken for AXA Health in October 2016 by Atomik.
² NHS, ‘Why we should sit less’