Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services (GAHHS) is joining with the American Diabetes Association® in celebrating National Get Fit Don’t Sit DaySM on May 4, 2016. On this Wellness Day, the Association encourages everyone to limit the amount of time they spend sitting by making sure they get up and move at least once every 90 minutes throughout the work day.
“On average, people spend five hours and 41 minutes of their day sitting at work,” said GAHHS Community Education Coordinator Eileen Woolums, RN, BSN, CDE, and spokesperson for WellAware, the organization’s wellness program. “Research shows that sitting for long periods of time increases your risk for many health problems, so it’s important that we get up and move during the day. National Get Fit Don’t Sit Day is the perfect way for Gibson Area Hospital to encourage our employees to get moving for better health.”
To celebrate National Get Fit Don’t Sit Day, GAHHS Administration will encourage employee participation by allowing staff to wear “workout wear” such as sneakers or other workplace-appropriate exercise clothing. Staff members are also invited to take pictures in their departments and share the images to show what they are doing to be more active.
Walking will also be encouraged, as well as committing to moving periodically during the workday. This may be accomplished by choosing in-person communication and walking to someone’s desk instead of calling or e-mailing, turning meetings into standing or walking meetings, and promoting DIY desk exercises. Staff will also be encouraged to participate in the Nurses Go the Extra Mile 5K Run/ 2 Mile Walk on May 7th at North Park Pavilion in Gibson City.
“Since the American Diabetes Association was founded 75 years ago, the Association has promoted the importance of healthy lifestyle choices as a way to manage all types of diabetes and to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes,” said Woolums, who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator at GAH as well as the facilitator of the GAH Diabetes Support Group. “Through National Get Fit Don’t Sit Day, we call on our employees, including people with diabetes, to get up from their work chair. Whether you bike to work or take a quick walk up or down the office stairs, it’s time to get active! We are excited to be joining the efforts of the American Diabetes Association. ”
National Get Fit Don’t Sit Day is part of Wellness Lives HereSM, an American Diabetes Association initiative designed to inspire and fuel our nation’s healthful habits at work and beyond. To learn more, visit wellnessliveshere.org. For information about the Diabetes Support Group or Diabetes Education at Gibson Area Hospital, contact Eileen Woolums at 217.784.4093 or visit www.gibsonhospital.org.
