New WHO guide for small and medium-sized enterprises highlights benefits of physical activity for workplaces

World Health Organization (WHO) Europe's new guide aims to inspire health-enhancing physical activity within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the WHO European Region. Every year, insufficient physical activity results in over 10,000 preventable deaths across the Region, and sedentary work environments are a huge part of this problem. Developed in collaboration with HEPA Europe (European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity)working group on workplace physical activity promotion, the new guide is designed specifically for smaller entities, and recognises the challenges that they may be facing in comparison to their larger business counterparts.

Ninety-nine-percent of all businesses in the European Union (EU) are SMEs. They are often overlooked by health-promoting policies and initiatives and lack the resources or guidance to implement full-fledged physical activity programmes found in major corporate structures. However, recommendations in the new guide capitalize on one of the main advantages of the SMEs – their flexibility.

Too much time spent sitting down is a worrying health risk factor linked to heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Together, these diseases are responsible for 90% of all deaths across the WHO European Region. Globally, increasing numbers of countries feel the need to promote more active lifestyles amid rising health concerns and awareness of the economic burdens of NCDs.

Source & Image: National Centre for Sport & Exercise Medicine