Posted on: Thursday January 17, 2019
Everybody knows that being physically fit is good for your health, but not everybody knows what effects eating better and getting more exercise can truly have. Physical health is not only good for the body, but good for the mind, which is why this should be encouraged by employers.
Aside from boosting your metabolism and helping you lose weight, physical exercise can do a lot of good for the human body. Being fit can help to lower your blood pressure, boost good cholesterol, improve blood circulation and even prevent problems in later life.
Did you know that it can prevent bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis? Or that it can reduce the likelihood of colon cancer by 50%?
According to the NHS, “To stay healthy, adults should try to be active every day, and aim to achieve at least 150 minutes of physical activity over a week through a variety of activities”. This means that per weekday, at least 30 minutes is required. However according to Sustrans, in England alone, it is estimated that only In 66% of men and 56% of women claim to meet these recommendations. With such low statistics, it is vital we encourage physical activity through work, as this is ultimately where people spend most of their time. Especially in terms of an office job, sitting at a desk all day is not at all good for your physical well-being. This can be improved by the use of workplace based physical incentives, such as rewards for steps in day, flights climbed and healthy eating challenges.
In terms of mental wellbeing however, it is so important to stay active. Understandably, when you’re feeling rough the last thing you want to do is go for a run, but actually, it’s one of the best things you can do. According to a study conducted by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, it was found that a moderate level of exercise can be just as effective as anti-depressants or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
These are only some of the reasons why physical health is so important. If you would like to know more about implementing physical incentives into your workplace, then have a look at the video below!
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