SMART Work & Life

 

Do you spend too much time sitting and want to do something about it? Or are you an employer who wants to encourage their workforce to sit less to improve their health and wellbeing?

SMART Work and life may be the answer

SMART Work and life is a free evidence-based resource kit to help people sit less and move more throughout the day. Although mainly aimed at people who have desk jobs, the resource kits have lots of relevant information and tools in there for anyone who wants to reduce their sitting time at work or at home!

Research shows that adults spend around 9 -10 hours per day sitting down, which is higher in some people, for example those with desk-based jobs. Unfortunately these levels of sitting each day have been linked to many health problems such as a higher risk of:

  • Musculoskeletal issues

  • Reduced cognitive function

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Larger waist circumference

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Feeling fatigued

  • Lower quality of life

The good news is that reducing sitting time by around one hour per day can reduce risk of these health problems and lead to people feeling more energised, focused and productive.

SMART Work and life has been tried and tested by a team of researchers from the University of Leicester, Loughborough University and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. Not only is it all free to access, there is substantial evidence to demonstrate it works.

This programme has been shown to:

  • Reduce musculoskeletal issues in the back and neck areas

  • Reduce fatigue

  • Increase work engagement

  • Improve quality of life

  • Improve job performance

  • Reduce sickness presenteeism

COL OUTLINE.png
 

You can find out more and sign up to SMART Work and life at www.smartworkandlife.co.uk

 
Alison Northernprevention, leicester diabetes centre