Employees counting their steps for Fitbit initiative
January 21, 2016
By Dan Bodden
Employees who chose to participate in the UK Health and Wellness Step Up Challenge are now 10 days into a six-week competition to increase the number of steps they take each day.
Participants can win UK gear like water bottles and pullovers by reaching goals up to 10,000 steps. All regular full-time employees were eligible to participate in the competition and buy a discounted Fitbit.
Associate economics professor Gail Hoyt purchased the Fitbit Charge HR, a model that usually costs $149.95 from Fitbit, for about $60. The model tracks heart rate and sleep in addition to steps. She said she has noticed the Fitbit keeps her more mindful of her activity.
“On the days I teach, I get 10,000 steps without thinking about it,” Hoyt said. “On the days I don’t teach, I try to park further away and walk – every 30 minutes or so at the office, I walk around the hall a few times or go up and down the stairs a couple times, and then I go to the High Street YMCA if it’s really cold at night and walk around the track.”
According to Jody Ensman, manager of the Health and Wellness Program, 6,200 participating employees have averaged 8,511 daily steps as of Jan. 20. The challenge will run through Feb. 21.
Hannah LeGris, honors admissions and Singletary Scholars coordinator, also purchased the Fitbit Charge HR and is participating in the program.
“I feel like I’ve been doing really well, but it has been interesting,” LeGris said. “I’m already a very active person, but because of the Step Up Challenge I feel kind of competitive about it.”
The Fitbit data can be viewed on the mobile app and uploaded onto the MatchUp website used for the challenge. LeGris has enjoyed viewing the statistics, including the sleep data the Fitbit tracks, even though it is not part of the competition.
“I think it’s a really positive initiative,” LeGris said. “I think for people who are already active, it’s kind of quantifying their activity in a really interesting way with stats and then for people who aren’t as active it is giving them more motivation and giving them some tools as well.”
