Employees have become more and more sedentary. So how can the average firm get employees more involved in exercise?

Walking programs are the most effective way, according to a recent presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine. The reason: Programs with small, achievable exercise goals are more effective in helping sedentary adults start (and stay with) fitness programs than those with more challenging fitness goals.

Researchers conducted an eight-week study of adults who said they hated to exercise. One randomly chosen group of men and women were given relatively tough-to-reach fitness goals.

The other was put on a less-strenuous walking program. Across the board, the latter group demonstrated better fitness levels at the end of the program, because they stuck with their programs.

Pedometers boost interest

Walking programs work even better when participants use pedometers.
Reason: Pedometers are a simple, non-invasive (and low-cost) way for people to increase their awareness of their daily activity and improve their overall fitness level.
In fact, the majority of folks who participated in the research project said they planned to continue wearing the device after the study was over.

There are a variety of pedometers on the market. Some tips on choosing the right device at the right price:

• The simpler and cheaper the item, the easier it is to use and replace.
• If funding is a problem, you may want to consider asking participants to pay a portion of the cost.
• For practical reasons, pedometers with straps often work better than “pocket pedometers.”