It only takes 15 minutes to improve your health and well-being, says a study

KEEPING yourself active during the work week can be difficult.

If you work in an office, standing at desks and taking the stairs instead of lifting are some of the ways you can combat the negative effects of sitting at a desk for a long time. times of time.

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But a recent study has revealed an easy way to fit in your daily exercise routine and find all that counts good health benefits.

Researchers analyzed results from 11,575 participants across 73 companies in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

They found the ’15 Minute Challenge’, a workplace health programme, can lead to a significant increase in physical activity levels.

A whopping 95 percent of participants met (36 percent) or exceeded (59 percent) physical activity guidelines.

They also reported an improvement in exercise (14 percent), strength (12 percent), general health (eight percent), sleep quality (eight percent) and mood (7.1 percent).

The 15 Minute Challenge is a six-week online group competition, where participants need to be active for just 15 minutes a day, regardless of their fitness level or how busy they are.

For the challenge, exercise is defined as “any activity in which you engage in physical activity to increase your overall health”.

“The biggest obstacle for people to live a healthy lifestyle is finding time in their busy days for exercise,” say the designers.

“When you make it a daily habit to take time to be active, you’ve overcome the biggest obstacle and you’re on your way to creating long-term health.”

That means you can commit to 15 minutes of walking, dancing around the living room or light jogging a day.

Participants report their progress on the 15-Minute online platform, where they can see how their team is doing and where they placed on the leaderboard.

To win challengeparticipants need to exercise as many days as possible in six weeks.

Those who exercise the most win the challenge and prizes.

Principal Investigator of Southern University Australia study, Dr. Ben Singh, said that the 15-Minute Challenge is an effective tool to boost employee health and wellness at work.

He said: “Regular exercise provides important physical and mental benefits.

It plays an important role in the prevention and management of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, and reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety.”

In the UK, guidelines suggest that adults do some form of exercise every day.

The recommendations are strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups at least two days a week, along with 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week.

Happy and healthy physical workers; they are more productive, satisfied, less stressed and less likely to get sick.

Professor Carol MaherA co-investigator

Dr Singh added that as most adults spend most of their sleeping time working, workplaces are ideal for encouraging physical activity.

He said: “In this study, we have shown that just 15 minutes of exercise a day can make a big difference in terms of people’s health and well-being. Although the program required only 15 minutes of activity, many people tended to do more.

“15 minutes is the trigger for vigorous exercise, and many participants end up exceeding the lower goal and approaching or exceeding national recommendations.”

Co-researcher, Professor Carol Maher, said part of the program’s success was the community and play aspect.

As part of the findings published in the journal Healthcare he said: “Motivating and holding your colleagues accountable through friendly competition is an important part of the 15 Minute Challenge app, and it’s an important part of what inspired it. participants to remain committed and coordinated.

“The program encourages teamwork, tracking and demonstrating incremental practice. Achievements are clearly recognized, and success is celebrated. So it’s really a tool that brings people together to work together and have fun.” .

“What we need to remember, however, is that addressing inefficiencies is everyone’s responsibility. So, if an employer can start an effective, fun, and affordable option of supporting their employees, is a win.

“Employees who are physically fit are happier and healthier; they are more productive, satisfied, less stressed and less likely to get sick. Sustainable, scalable initiatives – like the 15 Minute Challenge – that can support employees to change their health and well-being for the better, should be on every employer’s list.