Promoting physical activity in the workplace: using pedometers to increase daily activity levels

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Occupational Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Workplace physical activity (PA) programs are crucial for improving employee health.
• Promoting PA in the workplace can lead to significant health benefits and reduced healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a pedometer-based PA promotion program for staff at the former Department of Human Services in South Australia.
• To assess the effectiveness of a workplace intervention in increasing daily physical activity levels.

Main Methods:

• A pedometer-based program encouraged staff to aim for 10,000 steps daily, aligning with national PA guidelines.
• A train-the-trainer model ensured consistent program delivery across diverse settings (CBD, metropolitan, rural).

Main Results:

• Over 30% of staff (1195 participants) engaged in the program, including senior management.
• Approximately 70% of participants increased their walking levels over a four-week period, with greater gains in lower-activity individuals.
• Increased walking was sustained in the months following the program, and many participants involved family members.

Conclusions:

• Simple, integrated PA programs can be popular and effective in promoting health.
• Workplace interventions can enhance understanding of PA importance and increase activity levels.
• The program demonstrated value through participant benefits and broader influence, making it a worthwhile initiative.