A healthy workforce = a healthy society

As recently as 2012, absence from work due to illness was still at problem levels (7.7 days per year) in the United Kingdom. Estimated costs to the economy ranged from £13.2 billion to £32 billion every year.

What does this have to do with Nordic walking? If we review the benefits of Nordic walking posted in this blog and on Facebook at Nordic Walking Guy, we'll see how this all around activity improves people's health. Here are some additional thoughts about the workplace:
  • Workers may be constrained by time. Nordic walking can be very time efficient because its full body nature activates more muscles at the same time. This can provide great returns from a lunch time walk.
  • Sometimes people need some break or down time to socialize with colleagues. Since the pace of Nordic walking makes conversation, colleagues can set out on a walk together.
  • Step counting is becoming popular in the workplace.  I have many colleagues who use some kind of fitness monitor to count their steps. However, workers may want some of those steps to be at a higher intensity. Nordic walking can increase that intensity.
Poles

The US Navy, body fat, and sustainable exercise

  • "Men ages 18 to 21 will stay at the previous 22 percent body fat max, but from 22 to 29 they're allowed up to 23 percent, 24 percent between 30 and 39, and up to 26 percent over 40."
  • "For women, it's 33 percent from 18 to 21, 34 percent for 22 to 29, 35 percent for 30 to 39 and 36 percent over 40."

Why did the Navy do this?
  • "It started with the Navy realizing that there's no "one size fits all" in fitness and certainly not in body composition."
  • "…he'd [Vice Adm. Bill Moran, chief of naval personnel] like a system that could end the twice-yearly testing cycles, and instead actively gauge fitness and health on a year-round basis."
  • From World Magazine: "With the pressure to fill military occupations such as drone operator or cyber-warfare officer, for which body weight might not matter, many are wondering whether body fat standards are even necessary."

How is Nordic walking relevant?
  • The US military has a set budget for exercise equipment and facilities. The Nordic walking poles are a relatively inexpensive investment.
  • Given the interest in year-round fitness, Nordic walking offers a viable way to have a sustainable exercise program. There are enough variations of Nordic walking types of activities to provide something for everyone. For example:
    • Interval training can create a higher intensity experience.
    • Integrating body weight exercises like pushups during the walk can stress different parts of the body.
    • Running and bounding can also add intensity to the activity.
    • The benefits of the full body exercise also contribute to calorie and fat burning as well as muscle toning.

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