Those 45 minutes on the elliptical may seem like an eternity – especially when you do it on a daily basis – but taken as a whole, we spend a paltry percent of our lives on physical fitness, new analysis reveals.
Assuming a lifespan of 70 years, people spend less than 1 percent of their lives working out, according to a recent study conducted by Reebok. More specifically, at 0.69 percent, that's the equivalent of approximately 180 days.
Technology occupies much of our time
From a daily perspective, that may seem like a lot, but it's next to nothing compared to how much time individuals spend doing other activities, most of them sedentary. For example, the study found that the average person spends 41 percent of his or her life using a technological device, be it a computer monitor, laptop or tablet or smartphone. That's tantamount to 10,625 days. Furthermore, 30 percent of one's days on the earth are spent sitting, either at home or at work.
These interesting numbers are part of a new health awareness campaign sponsored by Reebok called 25,915 Days, which refers to the number of 24-hour periods the average person lives.
Yan Martin, vice president of brand management at Reebok, said that this initiative is meant to inspire individuals to get active.
"It gives us a renewed urgency to get out there and live fuller, healthier lives," Martin explained. "If we all traded in 30 minutes of phone time for a jog, we could actually help change the dynamics of global wellness."
The World Health Organization has described obesity as a global epidemic, spawning a new hybrid term health officials refer to as "globesity." In 1995, approximately 200 million adults were considered obese in worldwide. Five years later, the total ballooned to over 300 million, both in developed nations as well as developing countries.
Female workforce more likely to have gained weight than male
Employers can testify to the battle of the bulge that many of their workers are waging – as can employees. Nearly 50 percent of women nationwide say they've gained weight in the time they've been at their present job, based on a poll conducted by CareerBuilder. Thirty-nine percent of men say the same.
Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer for the Chicago-based online job search portal, said that in order to nip this portly problem in the bud, business owners have to be proactive about it. Furthermore, employees need to take advantage of wellness benefits when they're offered.
"To make wellness at work a priority, companies should emphasize its importance from top leadership down and focus on engagement, motivation, support and strategy when implementing new programs," Haefner explained.
Exercise frequency tends to have an effect on weight levels, a fact furthered in the CareerBuilder poll. Of those who exercised three or more days per week, 54 percent said they lost weight. Only around 3 in 10 who worked out to this extent reported gaining weight.
Approximately 3 in 4 organizations offer their staff employee wellness benefits, based on a survey done last year by the Society for Human Resources Management. That's up from 70 percent in 2012.
