Americans are gung-ho on getting in shape. Seventy percent say they want to take steps to improve their health, according to a new study from UnitedHealthcare.
Those steps usually stop at the gym door. More than six in 10 workers don’t take advantage of subsidized gym memberships and other wellness benefits, even though nearly three-quarters of employers offer them. This lack of physical activity takes a toll on worker well-being —- and drives up health costs.
Employers may think they can’t force their workers to exercise. But indeed they can — by subtly integrating more physical activity into the 9-to-5 routines. Office spaces that force — or rather, “nudge” — employees to move around are increasingly proving that they can provide a hefty boost to workers’ health and productivity.
Most Americans are sedentary. The typical person sits 13 hours a day. Only one in five exercises enough, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All this sitting makes people sick. Inactivity increases the risk of costly chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, depression and stroke.