The majority (81%) of employees at the University of Lincoln that took part in a walking challenge reported an improvement in their overall health and 44% said they had an increased ability to handle stress.
The activity, organised in conjunction with Global Corporate Challenge, saw participating employees kitted out with pedometers, cover a daily average of 13,870 steps. Of the 98 employees that took part, 66% reported an improvement in their daily energy levels and 32% reported weight loss.
The walking challenge ran alongside a number of initiatives, including healthy-eating options in the canteen. Employees could also build up extra steps during fitness classes in zumba, circuit training and badminton, which were provided by Sports Centre.
Ian Hodson, reward and benefits manager at the University of Lincoln, said: “This really allows for changes in eating or exercise patterns to become embedded into daily routines over a significant period of time.
"In the past, we have run successful one-off initiatives but these have not always led to long-term change. We have also seen some great responses from the teams encouraging each other with friendly competition or challenges, which has meant a real buzz in the workplace."
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