According to Sport England, more men do sport and physical activity than women at almost every age, and this gender gap starts from a very young age. However, their latest research indicates that this participation gap is narrowing, with 63% of men classed as “active” (doing 150+ minutes of exercise a week) compared to 60% of women.[1]

This is encouraging news, but troubling figures on obesity rates suggest that we should be doing more to increase participation in physical activity.[2] For employers, this means creating an inclusive physical wellbeing strategy that understands the barriers employees face and makes it easy for everyone to integrate exercise into daily life.

Understanding barriers to exercise

Physical inactivity and poor diet are among the top causes of ill health, which can subsequently negatively impact on our working life. So it’s in everyone’s interests to encourage regular participation in physical activity.

Most people know that sport and exercise is a good thing to do, but don’t feel they can get round to it for a whole raft of reasons. These may be personal – fear of being judged, feeling self-conscious or negative about their ability; or practical – time, cost, lack of information about how to participate.

As well as understanding what prevents your employees from exercising, it’s also worth giving some thought to what motivates people and how you can harness this. Examples of motivators include health benefits; reframing exercise as a chance to spend quality time with friends and family; setting goals and progressing towards them. Using real-life case studies is particularly effective to show that you don’t have to be super-fit – the important thing is showing up and taking part.

How employers can help

Talk to your employees to understand their working patterns and the support that could be provided. Try to ensure information and opportunities are available and suitable for everyone. For many people, flexibility is key to suit their need to balance work and family commitments.

For instance, offering discounted gym memberships may allow employees to exercise at a time and place that is convenient for them – especially as many gyms are now running virtual classes. Employers can also promote walk or cycle to work schemes to embed physical activity in everyday life. Providing lockers, changing and bike storage facilities, as well as encouraging staff-led lunchtime walking or running clubs all make it easier for employees to take part in a fun and friendly environment.

With staff working from home more often it’s harder for employers to have a direct influence on activity levels, but there’s still potential for change. Managers could organise a friendly competition within teams using fitness trackers on mobiles to see who is doing the most steps. You could also encourage employees to take regular breaks/stretches from staring at a screen and promote the idea of taking exercise during a lunch break.

Conclusion

The question of how employers should help people to manage their weight and fitness without invading privacy is a tricky one. You have the best chance of improving physical wellbeing among your workforce by designing your strategy around employees’ lifestyles and encouraging positive change without seeking to judge people for their choices.

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[1] Sport England, Active Lives Adult Survey November 2019/20 Report, published April 2021, p.9. Accessed at https://sportengland-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2021-04/Active%20Lives%20Adult%20November%202019-20%20Report.pdf?VersionId=OjWdwCLnI3dNgDwp3X4ukcODJIDVG7Kd (3 June 2021)

[2] The NHS reports that 28% of adults in England are obese and a further 36% are overweight. Health Survey for England, 2019, published 15 Dec 2020. Accessed at https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-for-england/2019 (3 June 2021).