NI workers encouraged to get active and ‘Sweat the Small Things’

Business in the Community, in partnership with Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS) and sponsored by Westfield Health, has launched an exciting new workplace-based campaign designed to support employers to tackle the harmful effects of sustained sedentary behaviour.

Businesses from across Northern Ireland are encouraged to sign up to Activity Works, an eight-week initiative that challenges and supports employees to increase their activity levels throughout their working day.

Over an eight-week period, participating organisations will track their active minutes and engage in healthy competition with one another, encouraging their employees to #SweatTheSmallThings and increase their levels of activity by making small changes to their working routine.

Lorraine Milne, Senior Business Development Consultant at Westfield Health, commented: “We have a long-standing and valued partnership with Business in the Community and are committed to continuing this through our sponsorship of the Activity Works programme. We see this initiative as a fitting follow-on from the highly successful £ for lb weight loss initiative and are particularly impressed by the focus on incorporating activity into the working day.

“As a not-for-profit, Business in the Community is the perfect fit for Westfield Health, who have donated over £12 million to NHS and medical charities since records began in 1996. Given our charitable interests, we are delighted that NICHS are partners in this project also.”

Amy Kieran, Workplace Programme Manager at Business in the Community said: “With the average desk-based worker in Northern Ireland sitting for approximately 8.9 hours each day, the workplace is the ideal setting to tackle sedentary behaviour.

“We recognise that employees have busy lives inside and outside work, and this initiative does not demand making time for extra hours in the gym. Instead, Activity Works challenges those taking part to make small changes to their daily routine in order to increase their active minutes throughout the working day. We would encourage any organisation that is keen to boost activity levels to get involved.”

Jessica Perry, Health Promotion Co-ordinator, NICHS added: “We are delighted to work with Business in the Community to launch this new programme, which will help to raise awareness of the risks associated with sedentary lifestyles and get employees across the country moving. It is vital that we start to incorporate more activity into our working lives and this campaign is a great way to start.”

Research shows that sitting for more than four hours each day, irrespective of overall physical activity, can cause a range of harmful effects including a reduction in metabolic rate, disrupted blood sugar levels and a shutdown of leg muscles. And in the longer-term, sedentary lifestyles can increase the risk of developing stroke, heart disease, diabetes and cancer, raise the risk of obesity, contribute to back ache and muscle degeneration, and is linked to mental health issues including dementia and depression.

If your business is interested in getting involved with Activity Works, please visit www.bitcni.org.uk/event/activity-works to find out more or register your interest.