OnMedica – News – Employers should help boost physical activity of staff

Doctors give their opinion on physical activity

Employers should encourage their staff to be more physically active in an attempt to combat rising rates of obesity, according to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

NICE today published a quality standard on promoting physical activity in the community, noting that a healthy, well-educated workforce is less likely to be sick and more satisfied with their work.

He advises employers to put forward a yoga or spinning clbad at a local gym, to offer subsidized subscriptions to a gym and to encourage the use of stairs instead of a gym. use the elevator as an example of prompting for staff to be in better shape.

Organizations are also requested to provide information on active and safe transportation routes to work, as well as to develop physical activity programs for the workplace to encourage employees to be more active and reduce sedentary behaviors.

The quality standard is intended for health care commissioners, service providers, health and public health practitioners, employers, schools, community and community sectors, and the public.

Figures provided by the Office for National Statistics show that more than 131 million days of work were lost due to illness, including 13 million days lost due to stress, depression or depression. anxiety.

According to NICE, being more active in daily life is important for the physical and mental health of people of all ages and abilities, while potentially contributing to the reduction of staff absenteeism, at least once a year. increasing staff satisfaction and improving the work environment.

According to the standard, health care command groups and local authorities should aim to increase physical activity through strategic planning and action plans for service delivery.

In health care commissioning groups, physical activity champions will ensure that physical activity is integrated with all clinical pathways.

Professor Gillian Leng, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Health and Social Services at NICE, said, "If the 5.7 million small and medium-sized British companies encourage their employees to be more active, they will be more likely to pull benefits that are more productive and are less likely to take sick leave.

"Simple things like providing secure bike storage, showers and changing rooms can allow people to commute to work by bike or to meetings.

"As a society, we are facing an obesity crisis caused in part by people who are not doing enough exercise. We need people to change their lifestyle and do more exercise. If they can do it during the working day, they will benefit not only, but also their employers and the NHS. It's a victory for all.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, welcomed the document and said, "Exercise can have an extremely positive impact on our physical and mental health. It is therefore easier for people to be active as part of their daily activities. Routine – at work and at leisure – is essential to helping patients live long and healthy lives.

"This new quality standard from NICE provides valuable advice to professionals and trustees in society – and to employers, it includes pragmatic suggestions that can be tailored to workplaces of varying sizes and resources.

"Physical activity and lifestyle are a clinical priority for the RCGP and we have developed resources to help general practitioners and other health professionals to encourage their patients to adopt a healthier lifestyle."