Office workers urged to move about more by new campaign

  • Health
A new campaign is urging office workers to move about more. Credit: Jonathan Brady / PA WIRE

A campaign aimed at encouraging office staff to be more mobile at work has been launched by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Get Britain Standing.

Many people spend only half an hour on their feet in the office and fear being sedentary is damaging their health, according to a new survey carried out by the charities.

38% of workers confessed to emailing someone sitting next to them and more than half, 52%, regularly eat lunch at their desk.

The poll of 2,000 workers, revealed 45% of women and 37% of men spent 30 minutes or less on their feet, with 62% in total fearing it would have a negative effect on their health.

A third said they even put off going to the toilet while at their desk.

The BHF is encouraging office staff to be more mobile at work, citing that sitting down too long can lead to health risks such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Gavin Bradley, founder of the Get Britain Standing campaign, called for workers to be more aware of their "sitting calculator" and stand up more often.