Baker IDI — with support from Vodafone Foundation Australia — has developed the free Rise & Recharge smartphone app aimed at getting Australians to spend less time sitting and encourage them to move regularly.
The app is based on scientific research that shows that regular movement can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.
The research
Did you know?
- Australians and office workers in particular, spend most of their waking hours sitting — the average adult sits for nine hours a day while office workers sit for two thirds of their working hours.
- Long periods of sitting increases the risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Luckily, regular short bursts of movement reduces these risks and may also boost performance.
- People who sit for more than eight hours a day are at a 15% greater risk of early death, and those who sit for longer than 11 hours a day are at a 40% greater risk of early death, than those who sit less.
- Perhaps surprisingly, even if someone exercises regularly, sitting for too long will still put them at risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.
The Rise and Recharge initiative is to encourage everyone to become more aware of prolonged sitting. The free new Rise & Recharge app can help track the time you spend sitting and set reminders to get up every 30 minutes. Download the app from the App Store and Google Play, or learn more at www.riserecharge.com.
The Rise & Recharge campaign has plenty of suggestions to reduce the health risks of prolonged sitting and enjoy an energy boost by staying active at work. They even suggest some new work moves anyone can try. (The mobile can-can is our favourite.)
Whilst as an operator or driver you are not always in control of when you can get out from behind the wheel, we want to encourage everyone in the industry to find opportunities to get moving throughout a shift.