Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Latest NewsOccupational HealthWellbeing

Health improved by physical activity intervention at work

by Nic Paton 12 Oct 2010
by Nic Paton 12 Oct 2010

People who take part in a physical activity at work have lower blood pressure and resting heart rate compared to those who do not, according to research by psychologists from the University of Leeds.

The study developed an intervention that targeted more than 1,300 employees from 44 worksites within five organisations, including the local county council.

Half of the worksites were randomly assigned to receive the intervention, and half to receive a leaflet that raised the awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

At the start of the study, participants were given a health check to measure their blood pressure, body mass index and body fat.

Each participant was asked how they felt about physical activity, how much physical activity they carried out, how satisfied they were with their job and how many days they had lost to sickness.

The intervention was run for three months, carried out by physical activity “champions” within each workplace, with leaflets, self-monitoring tools, team challenges and posters working to keep people engaged in their physical activity.

At the end of the study the participants reported how much physical activity they had done. The health checks were repeated 12 months after the start of the study.

While the researchers found no significant improvement in the reported levels of physical activity, those who took part in the physical activity intervention had improved blood pressure and resting heart rate readings at the end of the study.

Dr Rebecca Lawton, lead researcher from the university’s Institute of Psychological Sciences, said: “An interesting point was that we did find significant increases in physical activity among council workers. We collected data on how well the intervention was delivered and it seems that in the county council the facilitators did a great job of working through the intervention with their teams.”

A pedometer-based intervention is set to be tested and the team plans to look at how social networks can influence health behaviour. The study was supported by a £300,000 grant from the Bupa Foundation.

Nic Paton
Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consulting editor of OHW+. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for OHW+ and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Everything Everywhere defends redundancy system
next post
Prepared for the unpredictable – Cascade HR implements innovative new staff development programme

You may also like

Sharp rise in firms offering enhanced parental leave...

11 Aug 2022

Expert urges Covid-19 autumn booster expansion amid waning...

11 Aug 2022

Working in a heatwave: what should employers consider?

11 Aug 2022

Zero-hours contract benefits ‘can outweigh negatives for workers’

11 Aug 2022

Nearly 14,000 whistleblowing reports of furlough fraud received...

11 Aug 2022

Skills passport and new qualifications for care workers...

11 Aug 2022

Uber has more drivers than ever as worker...

11 Aug 2022

Royal Mail strike: Union urges it to ‘get...

10 Aug 2022

Hybrid working: do the costs outweigh the wellbeing...

10 Aug 2022

Supporting non-binary and transgender staff: four key steps...

10 Aug 2022

  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today