Workplace exercise trial seeks volunteers

摘要

Businesses are being invited to take part in a new work-based study into physical activity and health.rnSo far, three major organisations have signed up to the trial run by a team from the University of Leeds' Institute of Psychological Sciences, in partnership with the Health and Safety Laboratory and funded by a ￡300,000 grant from the medical research charity, the BUPA Foundation.rn1,000 members of staff from Wrexham Council, a leading Yorkshire teaching hospital and the Leeds and York depots of transport business FirstGroup, have been given access to activity toolkits, which have been specially designed by the research team to try and increase motivation and break down barriers to exercise, such as lack of time.rnThe toolkit includes a fridgernmagnet to help participants monitor their exercise, as well as tips and hints to getting fit, such as challenging teams of employees to scale a virtual mountain by climbing stairs.rnIn each workplace, a number of employees have been trained to support and encourage colleagues using the specially designed toolkit and the Health and Safety Laboratory is carrying out health checks on all participants in the trial.