National Walk to Work Day is April 3

If you can’t walk to work, maybe you can walk at work instead.

Grand Rapids, Mich., March 20 — Friday, April 3 is National Walk to Work Day. Endorsed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the sixth-annual event encourages Americans to turn their commute into an exercise opportunity.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090320/DE86407)

The reason is clear: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity among adults aged 20-74 more than doubled between 1980 and 2006, soaring from 15 percent to nearly 33 percent. Meanwhile, study after study indicates that moderate exercise for 30 minutes per day reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.

Participation guidelines for National Walk to Work Day couldn’t be more flexible. If walking to work is impractical, at least shun the elevator and walk up the stairs. If you take public transportation, get off a stop early and walk the rest of the way. And if your commute is too long to consider walking, simply pretend it’s National Walk to Lunch Day instead.

Here’s another idea, one that expands on the spirit of the national observance: Why not try walking at work, too? It’s now possible with the Walkstation, a combination treadmill and worksurface. Developed by Details, a Steelcase company, the Walkstation integrates an electric height-adjustable worksurface with a low-speed, commercial-grade treadmill exclusively engineered for Details.

The Walkstation enables office workers to stay active while chatting on the phone, sending e-mails, reading, and working on a computer. The device is most often used as a shared resource. Employers are apt to place them in common areas or conference rooms, where employees can take turns enjoying the benefits. The integrated treadmill operates within a limited range of one-half to two miles per hour, slow enough to allow users to focus on their work, yet fast enough to burn up to 100 calories per hour.

“The Walkstation isn’t intended to work up a sweat the way a gym workout can,” says Details President Bud Klipa. “The purpose is simply to increase movement while on the job and enjoy the health benefits that can result.”

The American Heart Association website, www.americanheart.org, offers a wonderful online support community for people to supplement their wellness commitments. It provides tips for helping reach fitness goals, as well as nutritional information, and information about their National Start! Walking day which is April 8.

For more information about the Walkstation or other Details products, visit www.details-worktools.com. Details is recognized by the American Heart Association as a Start! Fit-Friendly Company for promoting physical activity and health in the workplace.

Fast Facts:

• Obesity is rapidly becoming the number-one healthcare problem in North America, Europe and Asia.

• Last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the Physical Activities Guidelines for Americans to help people understand how much exercise they should be getting. According to the guidelines, adults can gain substantial health benefits from two-and-a-half hours of moderate physical activity each week, while children benefit from an hour or more of physical activity each day.

• As recently reported by Reuters (“Will Americans put on recession pounds?” - Jan. 9, 2009), Americans may wind up gaining weight during the recession even if they spend less on food. Reason: Buying foods high in sugar, saturated fats and refined grains is an easy, if unhealthy, way to economize.

Details, a Steelcase company based in Grand Rapids, Mich., provides innovative worktool solutions compatible with most furniture systems. Details worktools are sold through a network of 450 dealers and are featured in 20 Steelcase showrooms throughout North America. For more information about Details, visit www.details-worktools.com.

SOURCE Details, a Steelcase company