By YASEMIN TALAT
A NEW health awareness campaign was launched this month urging corporate workers to stand up and get moving.
Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute is leading the ‘On Your Feet Australia’ campaign which encourages office workers to wear their sneakers to work and get on their feet on 19 February.
Williams Landing resident and Range Designer at Homyped footwear, Bindi Learmont, was looking forward to tying her laces and standing up for the cause together with her colleagues.
“We’ve got involved in the On Your Feet campaign because we align with the anti-sedentary studies and campaign that’s spreading across the world,” Ms Learmont said.
“And we promote moderate activity in our lifestyles,” she said.
The team at the Homyped head office will gear up in their sneakers on Wednesday and get moving around the office.
“It’s an opportunity to start some new habits,” Ms Learmont said.
“I certainly expect that I will remind myself that it feels good to actually get up and walk away from the desk.”
Homyped has been involved with Baker IDI for several years, with Ms Learmont part of the team who develop a line of diabetes specific products.
Professor David Dustan from Baker IDI and his colleagues are conducting research into the links between chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and excessive sitting.
He said people underestimated the value of ’incidental, non-sweaty movement’ throughout the day, with the average adult sitting eight to 10 hours per day.
Everyone is encouraged to get involved by signing up at www.onyourfeet.org.au and donating to the campaign with funds going towards further research.
