![]() He collected data from bus drivers and bus conductors-those who climbed to the upper-level of Britain’s famous double-decker buses-and noticed that conductors climbed about 600 steps per shift while their coworkers, bus drivers, sat about 90 percent of the time. Was life becoming so sedentary that it was affecting heart health? Jeremy Morris, a British epidemiologist, proposed a study called the “exercise hypothesis,”2 which focused on studying the relationship between physical activity at work and heart attacks. In the 1950s the increasing rates of heart disease in the United Kingdom ignited a concern among the scientific/medical community. Worldwide estimates associated with physical inactivity indicate that as many as 3 to 5 million lives are lost per year (about as many as those killed by tobacco).1 Physical inactivity costs enormous sums of health-care-related expenses and puts more than 1 billion people at risk of developing chronic diseases. This has led to a global explosion of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).Īccording to Edward Stanley: “Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” Sedentary lives have a real cost. Then when many engage in leisure activity, they often do so as spectators rather than active participants. And yet, we don’t have enough time for leisure activity because our career jobs are so demanding. People typically don’t get enough daily manual work because most of us don’t grow our own food anymore. Urban environments were designed for vehicular traffic and not for pedestrian access. ![]() Ironically, we may be so busy at “work” that we don’t “work out” enough! Motorized transport means not enough walking escalators and elevators mean less stair climbing. Sadly, today’s accelerated way of life leaves little room for scheduled movement. Scientific reports of escalating rates of diseases linked to sedentary lifestyles and behaviors abound. Adequate sleep, water, and nutrition ensure adequate energy production and storage and then appropriate movement and muscle load produce and maintain strength and endurance. Sleep and rest are not only sweet after hard physical labor both are also necessary for energy storage and repair. Muscles need stored energy to create more and new muscle tissue. In His infinite wisdom God created movement and rest as counterparts to protect our bodies. Sedentary behavior and a lack of exercise are often associated with laziness yet we need to remember that “true rest”-both physical and emotional-is just as important as the amount of physical activity. In Ecclesiastes 3 we’re told that there’s a time for everything, which, of course, would also include a time for work and a time for rest. LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program, offers a variety of programs and services, such as health assessments and education, smoking cessation programs, fitness activities and nutrition activities, to help eligible faculty, staff and family members reach their health and fitness goals.Many say they don’t have time to exercise. ![]() For more information about the Get Moving Challenge, please see the frequently asked questions. During the program, participants can compete in up to four areas to log the most steps, exercise minutes, weight lost, and/or sustainable activities completed. LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program, is sponsoring the exercise program, which will use an online reporting system to log and track progress and show leaderboards. Individuals and teams of co-workers and friends have the chance to inspire each other to achieve health goals. About the Get Moving Challengeĭuke encourages faculty, students, and staff to get fit and healthy with the Get Moving Challenge, Duke's annual wellness competition. It also helps you earn LIVE FOR LIFE dollars! Read more. Taking the stairs is a great way to increase your activity level while saving electricity along the way. Week 5 (Feb 6-12): Take Stairs Versus Elevator View a list of some of the best wearable fitness trackers and some of the best health and fitness apps to find which one might be best for you. Round 2: Submit Results Nowĭeadline for submitting results: Monday, February 13. Deadline for submitting results: Monday, February 27.
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