Yahoo Finance Are workplaces holding Brits back from their fitness goals?
Brits are unable to achieve their fitness goals because of work, according to new research.
In survey of 2,850 people by Perkbox Medical, 45% of Brits said they can’t hit their target of walking 10,000 steps a day because they are “not able to walk a lot at work.”
Another 40% said they “don’t have enough time,” highlighting the issue of work-life balance.
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With three in five (58%) Brits trying to reach the target of 10,000 steps a day, and 71% — whether attempting to hit this target or not — not reaching this amount of activity, the survey reveals that many Brits are living a highly sedentary lifestyle.
Working 9-5 often means there’s a lot of time spent sitting, and not a lot of time spent standing or walking. In fact, research suggests UK adults spends an average of 9.5 hours a day sedentary.
This can contribute to a host of serious medical issues, including depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, type two diabetes, certain types of cancer, risk of stroke, and coronary heart disease.
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The survey also revealed a quarter (73%) attempt to reach 10,000 steps a day to maintain mental health and reduce stress, while 64% wish to improve fitness.
With 45% feeling they aren’t able to reach these goals because they can’t walk a lot at work, workplaces may not be placing employees health as a priority.
Workplace stress is a growing issue, but regular exercise can have a positive impact on mental health. Research shows it relieves stress, improves memory, improves sleep, and boosts overall mood — all of which should be of importance within the workplace.
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The NHS recommends employees take regular short walks at work, breaking up long periods of sitting with shorter bouts of activity for just one to two minutes.
