Being huge proponents of corporate wellness programs, we felt we HAD to address the American Sitting Epidemic starting with the fact that the average American sits 12 hours per day.

If you read all the studies, then you know that extended sitting will likely shave years off your life in some of the most unpleasant ways. The American Cancer Society conducted a 14-year study that found that women who sit for more than six hours a day were about 40% more likely to die during the course of the study than those who sat fewer than three hours per day. Men were about 20% more likely to die.

The American Journal of Epidemiology published a study finding that those who work a sedentary job have almost twice the risk of a specific type of colon cancer. Other studies have focused on specific conditions affecting the most Americans, things such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and depression. In those studies, too, extended periods of sitting increased risks of illness.

Researching Corporate Wellness Programs?

The FitNuts are in the field RIGHT NOW helping companies develop and increase participation in their corporate wellness programs.

Using a comprehensive planning formula, we make sure that your employees have effective options for exercise, eating and mindset! If you would like to find out more, check out our Corporate Wellness Evaluation offer!

What’s particularly interesting about recent research is the revelation that sitting for extended periods of time does significant damage to human health that cannot be undone by exercising. That creates a bit of a problem in all those industries that require people to be chained to a desk, phone, and/or computer. Alas, there are some simple solutions.

Stand Up Workstations

Sitting is a big part of our culture, in fact, we’re practically addicted to it. Standing desks have been around for decades, if not centuries, believed by some of the worlds smartest minds to stimulate creative juices.

In addition to avoiding that increased risk of death, standing desks offer a few other health benefits.

• You burn more calories standing
• Standing posture reduces aches and pains caused by excessive sitting
• Standing increases focus
• Increased physical demand lends to better sleep than just ending the day with mental exhaustion

60:3 Policy

Whether it is an rule at work, or you own personal agenda, the 60:3 policy breaks up those extended sit-ins. For every 60 minutes of sitting you get up and move around for 3. You do not have to leave the building, get off the phone, or stop working for an extended period of time. Get up, stretch, move your joints, hop up and down, walk around, … whatever. It is pretty simple, and it feels great! Let’s change the American sitting epidemic to the America is fit epidemic.

Find out more about other Corporate Wellness Program Ideas from the FitNuts!