Transparency is extremely important to us, so we are letting you know that we may receive a commission on some of links you click on from this page. See our disclaimer.

We've written frequently about the health dangers from too much sitting. We also know that some jobs simply require employees to remain at their desks — often sitting — for long periods of time.

Like call center workers.

Johns Hopkins Institute for Health and Productivity Studies looks at many of the issues and opportunities involving workplace wellness. One review involved “overcoming obstacles” for call center workers. However the lessons are useful for many employees beyond this single function.

Reports Johns Hopkins: “In the case of call center workers—the growing cadre of employees who spend hours sitting at their desks, tethered to telephone headsets—a sedentary work environment significantly raises their risk for obesity, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. These jobs can also lead to a shorter lifespan, with research finding that people who spend 23 hours a week on sedentary activities have a 64% greater risk of dying from heart disease than those who are more active.”

The post provides details on the ways that L.L. Bean ” ran a one-year pilot program in Bangor for 24 obese employees who had multiple health risks. The program included exercise, nutrition, and an emotional well-being component three times a week during work hours.”

The lessons were instructive:

“There needed to be more emphasis on accountability for participants coming to class and keeping logs documenting their activity, according to Stephanie Harvie, Manager for Wellness Operations at Bean. Also, she says, ‘We greatly underestimated the importance of providing EAP services to address emotional well-being, financial stress and family difficulties the participants were dealing with' that addressed employees’ high rates of depression and emotional and financial stress.”

The group then ran a second study that incorporated support from the Employee Assistance Program. According to Johns Hopkins: “This time, results were encouraging: Average weight loss was 14.7 lbs. (ranging from gaining 12 lbs. to losing 66.3), cardiovascular fitness improved 25%, flexibility improved 20%, muscular strength increased 15% and muscular endurance was up 58%.”

Johns Hopkins' conclusion is straightforward: “Inactivity is a growing threat to the health and well-being of America’s workers. Best-practice companies recognize this and tailor well-designed health promotion programs to meet the needs of all employees—especially those shift workers who are at highest risk for injury and chronic illness.”