Even if your organization encourages employees to quit smoking, participate in health assessments and have screening tests like mammograms and colonoscopies, you might not be following the age-old Golden Rule of health care: First, do no harm.
A number of recent studies confirm that working makes people fat, especially if their jobs call for them to sit for long periods, skip meals or deal with stress.
Work-related weight gain is so prevalent, in fact, that scientists refer to the syndrome as “sitting disease.” Research shows that a sedentary workday—especially a long one—can lead to everything from aches and pains to high blood pressure, heart disease and even cancer.
The problem, according to research reported in the American Journal of Physiology: Prolonged pressure on a body part that is in a resting position for too long causes it to produce more fat.
It’s a problem that’s getting worse. Americans sit longer and exercis...(register to read more)
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These are all excellent ways to cure the “sitting disease!” And we would like to add an 11th: Stretch, Stretch, Stretch!
Research has shown that workers who simply take stretch breaks are not only more productive, focused, and energetic throughout the work day, but are also able to combat the many illnesses and injuries caused by prolonged sitting and inactivity.
We urge you to go ahead right now and take a 2 minute stretch break from your desk–and if you are interested in learning more about micro-break software, please check out The Movement Online!