The most important room

Transcription

1 The most important room

2 Office workplaces have realised the health benefits of standing up and working We are facing a major problem in schools

3 The WHO's recommendations for sedentary office work: The damage to health from sitting down is leading to a major economic burden for society. Researchers are therefore encouraging decision-makers to take the issue more seriously and enhance the preconditions for physical activity in our everyday lives. The WHO's goal is to reduce physical inactivity in the world by 10% by Office workplaces have realised the health benefits of standing up and working. Sitting down has increased in society, we are seated at work and are less active in our leisure time. For example, research has shown that energy consumption has fallen by about 100 kcal/day from physical activity in the last 50 years. Too much sitting is harmful, for both children and adults. Being able to vary position during the working day is important, and height adjustable desks are now a matter of course in office environments. We are facing a major problem in schools too. Despite the fact that office workplaces have undergone massive development in recent decades, the situation in schools is frequently still as it was in the 1970s. Naturally, a beneficial working environment is as important for children as for adults. Technical aids, less PE lessons and less leisure-time activities have made children less active. However, using computers or tablets does not mean having to sit down. Why is sitting down so bad? There are many reasons why sitting down is bad. One reason is that LPL (Lipo Protein Lipase), an enzyme which plays an important role in metabolism, becomes inactive. LPL's function is to facilitate the transport of fatty acids inside the cells throughout the body, in the muscles and the heart tissue to mention a few. When sitting down, LPL is inactive, which leads to fat being stored in fatty tissue instead of being burned up as energy in the muscles.

4 How active are children and young people?

5 The WHO's recommendations for physical activity for children aged 5-17: Children and young people aged 5-17 should devote at least 60 minutes a day to physical activity of moderate to high intensity. Physical activity includes play, games, sport, transport, chores, recreation, athletics or other planned exercise, within the framework of the family, school and social activities. More than 60 minutes delivers additional health benefits. The bulk of the daily physical activity should be movement of moderate intensity. High intensity training should be incorporated (including that which strengthens muscles and bones), on at least 3 occasions per week. How active are children and young people? Here are some examples: Studies in Sweden show that only 30% of 4 year olds reach the recommended amount of physical activity on weekdays and only 20% of 4 year olds reach the recommended amount of physical activity at weekends (see table). Moreover, only one in eight 13 year olds move sufficiently every day. Surveys have also revealed that only 50% of school sports constitute active time, the rest is sedentary reviews and theory. 65 MVPA minutes per day WHO recommendation 35 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday MVPA= Moderately intensive to intensive physical activity

6 Being able to stand up and work is a matter of course - for both adults and children

7 But physical activity does not just need to be sport. An active work environment produces more alert pupils who can concentrate more easily and have more desire to learn. By giving children the opportunity to stand up and work, we are creating a natural element of activity in the classroom. It has been demonstrated that just 10 minutes of activity per hour counteracts the negative effects of sitting down. Children who can be physically active during lessons perform better at school. Regularly interspersing sitting down with complex movements where thought is necessary, such as circuit training for two minutes with knee bends, lunges, jumping etc. has been shown to improve cognition in children. The studies have shown that children perform better in grades/tests if they have active lessons, particularly in maths. It is important to emphasise that the same effects are not produced if all the activity takes place at once, rather the best thing for the child's health/performance seems be if sitting still is interspersed with activities now and then. The children perform better and become smarter. Cognition (psychology), mental capacities and processes which entail perception and interpretation, including: perception, figuration, concept formation, memory, thinking and judgement. ActiveS School for more alert pupils ActiveS School consists of a height adjustable desk for pupils supplied with a soft and comfortable mat to stand on. The pupil obtains a flexible workplace, the desk is easy to raise and lower for both the pupil and the educator, no electrical connection is needed and the mat is perfectly adapted. Everyone can stand comfortably or sit correctly regardless of how tall they are and the desk therefore fits pupils of all ages. The ActiveS desk together with active lessons should be a winning concept - it imbues good habits through a natural element of activity in the classroom.

8 The desk screen enables better concentration as it both screens and is sound absorbent. It is easy to set up or move. The eyelet enables you to simply hang the screen up when not in use. The desk screen helps to soundproof the classroom even when not in use. The desk is simple for pupils of all ages to adjust manually, a gas spring makes it easy to raise or lower the desk. No electrical connections are required. The top is available in standard finish or with a sound absorbent surface. The desk has two hooks, one so that the mat can be hung up and one for a screen or bag. The lowest sitting height is 73 cm, the highest standing height is 117 cm wich makes it suitable for all ages. The desktop is available in standard finish or with a sound absorbent surface. Several different patterns are available to choose between. They are hard wearing, dirt resistant and easy to clean. The mat is soft and comfortable to stand on, enabling you to stand up longer. The form and format are adapted according to the desk, an eyelet enables you to hang up the mat when needed. The mat is easy to clean. ActiveS a part of Matting AB. Box 514, SE Alingsås, Sweden. Tomasgårdsvägen 19 SE Alingsås, Sweden Tel: ActiveS@matting.se