Implementing movement at the workplace: Approaches to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in the context of work

• Published in: Progress in cardiovascular diseases 2021-01, Vol.64, p.17-21
• Main Author: Pronk, Nicolaas P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Implementation; Physical activity; Program design; Sedentary behavior; Workplace
• ISSN: 0033-0620; 1532-8643
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2020.10.004

The purpose of this article is to highlight approaches to increase movement, physical activity (PA), and cardiorespiratory fitness, and reduce sedentary behavior (SB) in the context of the workplace. A deliberate strategy that will enable the successful promotion of movement at the workplace includes a business plan and rationale, an organizing framework, prioritization of interventions that are known to generate outcomes, and alignment of programmatic solutions with strong program design principles. Recommended principles of design include leadership, relevance, partnership, comprehensiveness, implementation, engagement, communications, being data-driven, and compliance. Specific evidence-based intervention examples are presented in the context of a socio-ecological framework including the individual, group, communications environment, physical environment, and policy domains. Increased movement at the workplace, as a result of promoting PA and reducing SB, generates important health outcomes across physical, mental, social, and economic domains and these benefits extend across the individual and organizational levels.