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The 9th Annual Walk at Work Day (W@W), April 8, 2009, was sponsored by the Department of Health Services in collaboration with the American Heart Association. Participants were encouraged to walk any day that week, depending on schedules and weather. A total of 52 sites and 7,813 individuals registered to walk.
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Walking benefits everyone...employees, students, schools and businesses. People who don't usually take a walk at lunchtime may feel more energized and productive and want to continue daily physical activity. When people are physically active, health care costs for preventable diseases and stress related conditions can decrease. Regular physical activity can prevent or delay many chronic health conditions. School absenteeism rates may decrease as students practice more healthy habits such as daily physical activity.
W@W offered everyone a chance to take part in a one day workplace fitness awareness event at NO cost. Participation required no special facilities, time off, fund-raising or sponsorship. Each team planned 30-minutes of walking or any physical activity, either inside or outside.
The BCDHS offers a variety of programs and promotes a wide array of activities intended to improve the health and quality of life for Bergen County residents. There are many steps residents can take to help improve and enhance our county and the people who call it home.
While they were walking, some participants also helped improve the health of our environment by picking up litter along their walking route. Bags and gloves were provided to each walking team by the Bergen County Clean Community initiative, if requested. Litter and debris in our environment not only compromises the beauty of our surroundings, but also may pose risks to humans, wildlife and waterways.
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