Surgeon General recommendation is to walk a minimum of 10000 steps per day or ...
Surgeon General recommendation is to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps per day or around 5 miles
Although the Surgeon General recommended you walk a minimum of 10,000 steps a day or five miles per day, not everyone can do it because of pre-existing health issues. And some of those health issues might be due to advanced age, various illnesses, or even from leading a sedentary lifestyle, according to an October 20, 2009 news report from TrekDesk, a company that has come up with a new solution for sedantary employees--a workstation at your desk where you can walk as you work.
While the healthcare debate rages on there is a means for you to take personal control over your health. You don't have to leave the office or home to do it. If you sit in chairs during the day, you might appreciate learning about the new idea of desk treadmills. See the new Treadmill Desk video on trekking at your desk.
Sedentary desk jobs are robbing adults of their health and are one of the leading causes of rising adult obesity rates, now at 18.7% according to the Centers for Disease Control. Only clean-air Colorado’s obesity rate is the lowest in the nation, but what happened in Colorado now is that it has shown the fastest percentage gain than any state with the exception of Virginia in the past 15 years.
If you can't get outside to walk because of polluted air, traffic, or a sedentary desk job, perhaps walking at your desk might help. TrekDesk offers the first affordable solution that gets employees up and moving, garnering national attention at a time when health care costs and obesity rates are spiraling out of control.
Benefits derived by walking during work hours along with the agencies that published the studies:
33-70% reduction in the rates of most cancers (National Institutes of Health)
90% reduction in the number of initial heart attacks (American Heart Association)
50% reduction in the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
70% reduction in the risk of stroke (American Heart Association)Nearly 2/3 of our nation’s population is overweight with 50% of this number classified clinically obese. At a time when our nation is turning their attention to health care reform a few strong voices are rallying the cry for workplace and lifestyle reform as a critical piece of the puzzle.
A company known as TrekDesk has designed and is currently selling a unique, affordable solution that has been proven to help employees lose weight, restore health, prevent disease, improve mood and boost productivity: all without ever leaving the office. The only issue is that you need a treadmill in the first place. TrekDesk is a full sized, height adjustable work station which attaches to existing treadmills allowing employees the opportunity to walk slowly while they work without sweating.
Sound bizarre? The human body has evolved with the ability to walk 30 miles per day and its internal health systems are dependent upon walking to keep it in top form. Most American walk on average only 2 miles per day not allowing the body to maintain health or proper weight levels. Sedentary jobs and lifestyles are the main culprit and treadmill desks offer an solution.
Treadmill desks are already in use by major corporations such as GlaxoSmithKline, Humana, Mutual of Omaha and Best Buy however their average cost ranges between $4500-$6500, well beyond the budget of most companies and individuals. TrekDesk however costs less than 1/3 of an average monthly health insurance premium. Priced at $479, TrekDesk is currently shipping free through out the United States.
The health benefits of walking during the day are backed by years of solid medical evidence. Here are some interesting statistics on the benefits derived by walking during work hours along with the agencies that published the studies:
33-70% reduction in the rates of most cancers (National Institutes of Health)
90% reduction in the number of initial heart attacks (American Heart Association)
50% reduction in the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
70% reduction in the risk of stroke (American Heart Association)The National Institutes of Health reports that 84% of ALL medical claims are the direct result of a lack of exercise and poor diet/lifestyle choices. Obesity related claims are costing our health care system in excess of $100 Billion annually. References to the medical reports proving the health benefits of treadmill desks can be found at the TrekDesk website.
Heeding the Surgeon General’s recommendations to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps or about 5 miles per day would have a dramatic impact on the nation’s health reform landscape. TrekDesk allows employees to meet this goal in as little as 2.5-3 hours per day while they work.
Due to being sedentary and seventyish, I walked a slow, 13,114 regular steps today along the curb as many of the streets in my neighborhood have few sidewalks. And my Omron pedometer noted that I walked 4.13 miles, 7,772 aerobic steps, and burned 228 calories. The heavy traffic along the street felt threatening, even though the newspaper said the air quality today was good.
Inspite of the muddy curbs and teenage males followed by younger kids on bikes riding on the sidewalk not in the bike lane, tailgaiting me when the few narrow sidewalks became available, the walk had very good results. My back pain from usually sitting up to12 hours a day in front of a computer is gone.
Whatever you choose, treadmill, walking outside, or the safer way, walking through indoor shopping malls, get moving for your health, if your doctor advises you to walk for exercise. Shopping mall walking also is a good way to walk without breathing in the heavy traffic pollution as you walk along the curb where there are no sidewalks.
You could join a gym, go to the "Y," link up with a community center's walking program, take a chair exercise course, or solve your walking issues at home or at work with a treadmill that you can use at your desk, maybe even create a cleaner environment with an air purifier as you walk indoors.
Photo credits: TrekDesk
