Employees at the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) can now get physically active during the day without worrying about taking too much time away from their work, thanks to a new policy announced by DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D.

 

Effective immediately, all DPH employees will receive 30 minutes out of their work day to be used for physical activity, time that does not need to be made up and will be considered part of the employee's work day.

 

"Physical activity is a basic part of being healthy, and as the Department of Public Health, our job is to encourage healthy living," Fitzgerald said. "Through this policy, DPH is encouraging all of our employees to be active so they can live happier and healthier."

 

Here are the rules: the 30-minute physical activity break is in lieu of scheduled breaks, but can be taken in conjunction with a lunch break, though that break cannot exceed 60 minutes total. The physical activity break can also be taken as 30 minutes at an alternate time of day that works best with an employee's schedule or can be broken apart for two 15-minute breaks during the work day.

 

"This is a huge step in the right direction for DPH," said Susanne Koch, DPH worksite wellness coordinator. "My goal is that all districts throughout the state will adopt similar policies."

 

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends all adults get in at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week just to maintain good health. But if individuals are trying to lose weight, they should have a goal of exercising for 300 minutes or more each week.

 

"That number can be a little overwhelming, so start with the 30 minutes a day," Koch said. "If 30 minutes all at one time is too much, you can break it up into smaller increments throughout the day."

 

It's hard to overestimate how beneficial physical activity is for overall health.Physical activity has been shown to help maintain a healthy body weight, maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints, promote psychological well-being, and reduce the risk of certain diseases, including some cancers. A National Cancer Institute study published in November found that people who engage in leisure-time physical activity had life expectancy gains of as much as 4.5 years.

 

Beyond the new physical activity policy, the DPH Worksite Wellness office will continue to offer programs supporting employees trying to get active or lose weight. Beginning Jan. 23, DPH will launch Slimdown 2013, an exercise and weight-monitoring program with the goal of helping DPH employees lose 10,000 pounds by mid-June.

 

Fitzgerald began promoting increased physical activity for DPH employees through the Insulin Support, Tips and Exercise Program (InSTEP), an initiative that encourages people to be physically active for five minutes at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. and for 15 minutes at noon. Koch said nearly 100 people have participated in the program since it began in March.

 

Koch said DPH employees have already made progress in shedding pounds through the department's Holiday Survivor Program, which encourages people to meet daily to walk stairs, take walks or participate in group exercise.

 

-Story by Carrie Gann, DPH Communications