Nicholas D Gilson The School of Human Movement Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia.

National Health Priority Areas (x8) 1

The green prescription! Lifestyle change can really work!

Walking guidelines Accumulating at least 10,000 daily steps remains the minimal public health goal of these steps should be achieved through bouts of brisk walking (3-4mph), sustained for 10 minutes or more 2 Small step increments have been found to lower risk for chronic disease in low active adults 3 2 Tudor-Locke et el. Med Sci Sports and Exerc 2008, 40 : S Tully et al. JECH 2007, 61 :

The activity-risk relationship

What things stop you being physically active?

Sedentary Workplaces Office-based workers often spend prolonged periods of the workday spent sitting at desks 4 High volumes of sitting have been cited as an independent risk factor for conditions such as type II diabetes and obesity 5 4 Gilson et al. Int Journal of Workplace Health Management 2009, 1 : Hamilton et al. Diabetes 2007, 56 :

Can we change this culture? We spent the large part of our week at work (we are a captive audience) Our workplace is a practical and effective setting through which walking (and less sitting) can be encouraged

Pedometer-based, workplace walking initiative Tailored 10 week program Assessment of where you are (baseline) Asks you to make small increments in your walking against set targets Interactive, web-based support that targets barriers to change

Practical ideas for sitting less and moving more at work Park it Active s Onwards and upwards Take a stand Stand-walk-talk Break time walks Lunch time walking groups

Does it work? Step counts/workday Control Intervention Gain of around minutes of physical activity each workday 6 Gilson et al (2007) Preventive Medicine, 44,

Problem solving FocusCalmnessDe-stressMe timeEnergy Work links Mind and body 7 Gilson et al (2008) Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 15,

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