Slow Progress? No Problem.

May 13, 2011
Written by: Julie Bosche, Filed in: Corporate Wellness Programs

The good news: Americans are doing more walking and biking than they were a decade ago. The not-so-good news: Not much more.

The increase translated to about 9 extra miles per year, which is not quite the dramatic change it would take to put a significant dent in the obesity epidemic or our nation’s overall health.

Other findings from the study, according to WebMD, include:

Active travel declined for women, children, and seniors, but increased among men, the middle aged, people who were employed, well-educated people, and those without cars.

About 75% of walk trips and 50% of bike trips in 2009 were for utilitarian purposes, such as getting to work, school, shopping, visiting friends, or accessing public transportation.

Trips for recreation, exercise, and sports accounted for 27% of walking trips and 49% of biking trips.

For people whose primary goal is to encourage health and wellness, Americans’ slow progress in terms of increasing physical activity can be frustrating.

Still, slow progress is better than no progress, and focusing your efforts on your staff (not the state, the nation, the world) will make the task less daunting.

So hang on to your motivation and give yourself credit for all the small successes along the way. When you recognize your workers’ wellness achievements, give yourself a pat on the back, too, as a small reminder that your work is making a difference.

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