Program urges workday walking

BANGOR – Because at least 70 percent of American adults don’t get enough exercise. Because obesity rates continue to rise. Because overweight people are more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure and other serious, long-term health problems. Because preventable chronic illness related to inactivity means higher health insurance premiums, lost productivity at work and billions of dollars in health care spending each year.

Those are some of the reasons the American Heart Association has teamed up with employers across the country to promote its Start! Walking program, aimed at encouraging workers to incorporate 30 minutes of vigorous walking into each workday.

In Bangor Wednesday, a handful of Hannaford supermarket employees gathered at the Stillwater Avenue store, along with some local business owners and representatives of the heart association, to host a “walking press conference.” The walkers didn’t go far – just once around the low brick building, which houses the grocery store and some other businesses.

Hannaford, based in Scarborough, is the statewide sponsor of the walking program.

Carrie Fontino of the American Heart Association described the Start! program and directed interested employers and individuals to www.mystartonline.org to get more information and tips for adding deliberate exercise to an already busy daily routine.

Michele Wittine, assistant manager of the Stillwater Avenue Hannaford store, said after the event that Hannaford already has a well-developed employee wellness program that includes routine blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, nutritional consultations and more. The workday walking program is one more option employees can take advantage of during their breaks and lunchtimes, she said.

“It’s their choice. We can’t make them do it,” Wittine said. But, she added, employees at her store can expect their daily “huddles” – brief, informal meetings at the start of each shift – to take place on foot from now on, outdoors, walking around the building.

“We timed it today,” she said. “It only takes about 3 minutes.”

The Maine chapter of the American Heart Association will hold its 2008 Heart Walk Oct. 25 in Bangor. Register at www.bangorheartwalk.org.