The Sneakers Friday is a campaign by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) to help Filipinos become aware of the risks of leading sedentary lifestyles. According to almost 2,000 PHA members and fitness gurus Jim and Toni Saret, we all should follow the simple guideline of “Sit less and move more.”

If you’ve been sitting for around eight hours a day at the office, there’s a risk that you increase your risk of getting heart disease, cancer, and diabetes by 40 percent. In short, the longer you sit at your desk means your risk of an early death increases.

Since most people today are always on the computer, glued to their seats for many hours every day, most of them face different kinds of mental and physical stress. Instead of engaging in physical activities, they spend most of their time working and yes, leading unhealthy lifestyles.

“Sneakers Friday” is meant to promote workplace health and wellness where personnel are encouraged to wear sneakers, casual top and pants every Friday as a “dress down day.” Employees should incorporate walking (or briskwalking) into their routines.

Here are some tips on how to stay healthy, according to PHA:

• Eat healthy
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Avoiding vices like alcohol and cigarettes

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA), a non-stock, non-profit organization of 1,780 Filipino cardiologists is committed to foster exceptional cardiovascular education and primary care for everyone. Living up to its mission, the PHA aims to do its share on the awareness on preventive and management of heart diseases. The initiative encourages employees to improve their physical and mental well-being, and effectively address sedentary lifestyles by launching a campaign called “Sneakers Friday.”

Published: 2018-05-29 01:51:08