‘Walk and talk’ meetings improve productivity
A US study says that one ‘walk and talk’ meeting a week could transform the health, wellbeing and productivity of the employees.
For employees who are not into meetings one after the other, this may sound trivial; but those who are ‘walk and talk’ meeting not only provides the much needed relief of sneaking out of the meeting rooms, it is also beneficial to health.
The research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has concluded that converting one traditional meeting into a walk and talk meeting could mitigate the negative effects of sitting all day.
The study conducted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine was published in the Preventing Chronic Disease journal.
It argued that taking part in just one walk-and-talk meeting a week increased the work-related physical activity levels of white-collar staff by 10 minutes.
‘There are limited opportunities for physical activity at work. This walking-meeting pilot study provides some early evidence that white-collar workers find it feasible and acceptable to convert a traditional seated meeting into a walking meeting,’ said Alberto J Caban-Martinez, the study’s principal investigator and assistant professor of public health sciences.
‘Physical activity interventions, such as the walking-meeting protocol, that encourage walking and raise levels of physical activity in the workplace are needed to counter the negative health effects of sedentary behaviour,’ he added.
The University of Miami participants wore accelerometers that was used to measure physical activity levels during the workday over a 3-week period.
A ‘walking-meeting protocol’ was also followed that included guidance for leading meetings and taking notes while walking.
The average combined moderate/vigorous physical activity reported by participants increased from 107 minutes in week one to 114 minutes in the second week, and to 117 minutes in week three.
Earlier studies have proved that moderate exercise, which includes brisk walking, for as little as 15 minutes per day can increase life expectancy by 3 years.
Every little physical activity is useful and ‘walk and talk’ meeting is an opportunity for a physical activity – the OH physician should propogate the idea especially for teams that have too many meetings daily, day after day.
