National Walk @ Lunch Day April 29

Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College and their employees will take a big step toward better health, joining walkers across the country in the third-annual National Walk @ Lunch Day^®.

Last year, the event drew tens of thousands of participants in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The Fairmont National Walk @ Lunch Day event will take place at noon, Wednesday, April 29, in the Falcon Center located on the main campus of FSU and Pierpont. The Department of Intramurals & Recreation is sponsoring the event and invites all employees and students to attend.

National Walk @ Lunch Day is a workplace walking program that encourages people to take time during their lunch break to start walking toward better health.  Most Americans' schedules are built around their workdays, so National Walk @ Lunch Day is designed to fit into - not compete with - their daily routine. 

"National Walk @ Lunch Day is designed as an easy way for our employees to fit some exercise into their busy lives," said Tina Mascaro, Director of Intramurals & Recreation.  "The process is simple - just take a half hour walk at lunch. Making it a habit can contribute to an individual's health and the overall health of the nation."

The national walking effort is a component of WalkingWorks^®, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association physical activity program to help Americans live healthier lives and reduce unnecessary medical costs due to physical inactivity.  The WalkingWorks program was developed in partnership with the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Employers recognize the health benefits of incorporating walking into employees' daily activities.  The personal health and medical benefits of walking are numerous. They include: managing your weight, controlling your blood pressure, decreasing your risk of heart attack, boosting "good" cholesterol, lowering your risk of stroke, lowering stress levels, relieving arthritis and back pain, strengthening muscles, bones, and joints, improving sleep and improving overall mood and sense of well-being.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the cost to treat illness and chronic disease caused by inactive lifestyles is nearly $1,000 for every family in America, every year.  Simply getting 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk, at least five times a week has significant health benefits, lowering the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease, hypertension or type 2 diabetes, and improving the health of muscles, bones and joints.  

For more information, call Tina Mascaro at (304) 367-4291.