Worksite Wellness Treadmill Workstation: Wellness and Productivity
Presented by Troy Donahoo, MD & Vinita Biddle, CEBS
There has been a dramatic rise over the last decade in sedentary behavior, obesity, and subsequently an increase in related diseases including diabetes. Although dietary changes and changes in voluntary physical activity are a component of this disturbing trend, changes in the worksite with decreased energy expenditure might be the most significant contributor. One proposed mechanism to help combat these trends is the incorporation of a treadmill workstation (TWS). From the employer’s perspective, although contributing to the health of the employees is important, optimal productivity in the workplace is critical to success. Through a variety of mechanisms, it is reasonable to believe the TWS will help address barriers and improve productivity. This session will discuss our ongoing evaluation of the TWS in an actual office/clinical setting over several months, and show preliminary data on the effect on productivity, daily physical activity, weight, and job satisfaction. Specifically, we hypothesize that, following 16 weeks of TWS use, participants will have greater productivity scores, greater total daily activity, and improved job satisfaction compared to baseline levels compared to a control group.
