Research Design Connection: Lunchtime Walks Pay Off

by Sally Augustin, Ph.D. | May 16th, 2016

There are clear benefits to getting previously sedentary employees up and walking at lunchtime. Thogersen-Ntoumani and colleagues completed a study during which “Physically inactive employees [getting less than the recommended amount of exercise per week, average age 48, 93% of the 56 subjects were female] from a large university in the UK…partook in three weekly 30-min lunchtime group-led walks for 10 weeks…Lunchtime walks improved enthusiasm, relaxation, and nervousness at work.” These findings indicate that siting offices in locations where lunchtime walks will be more likely is desirable. C. Thogersen-Ntoumani, E. Loughren, F-E. Kinnafick, I. Taylor, J. Duda, and K. Fox. 2015. “Changes in Work Affect in Response to Lunchtime Walking in Previously Physically Inactive Employees: A Randomized Trial.” Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, vol. 25, no. 6, p. 778-787. Sally Augustin, PhD, a cognitive scientist, is the editor of Research Design Connections (www.researchdesignconnections.com), a monthly subscription newsletter …