National "Walk to Work Day" is coming April 4th. Why should it only be one day and just for "workers" though? Why not walk to school, the drug store or to the park? Everyone should get in on the action, but it may not be practical for everyone to walk to school or work because of the distances involved. That's okay though, there is a solution for that too.

If walking to work or school is impractical, at least shun the elevator and walk up the stairs. If you take public transportation, get off a stop early and walk the rest of the way. And if your commute is too long to consider walking, simply pretend it's "National Walk to Lunch Day" instead -- or perhaps "Walk to Starbucks Day" for us college caffeine addicts.

Why is this such a big deal? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity among adults aged 20-74 more than doubled between 1980 and 2004, soaring from 15 percent to nearly 33 percent. Meanwhile, study after study indicates that moderate exercise for 30 minutes per day reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.

I know. You are grumbling, "What if it is raining, or snowing, or there is a hail storm or tornado or it is too hot...what if I have WORK to do???" Excuses, excuses. Well -- you could walk while you work. No, really.

There is yet another method of staying fit if you don't like stairs. You can walk at work or in school while you are computing, chatting, or crunching numbers. It's now possible with the Walkstation, a specially designed treadmill made by Details, a Steelcase company.

The Walkstation integrates a slow-moving treadmill with a height- adjustable work surface, enabling office workers or students to stay active.

The Walkstation is the result of an alliance between Details and Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Dr. Levine estimates that users of the Walkstation can burn up to 100 calories per hour.

"The Walkstation isn't intended to work up a sweat the way a gym workout can," Dr. Levine says. "The purpose is simply to increase movement while on the job and enjoy the health benefits that can result."

What better way to kill two birds with one stone -- get the job done and stay healthy at the same time! These puppies are not yet cost-effective for in-home use (unless you're rich), but colleges and businesses can purchase them for their employees/students' use at a "measly" $6400 to $6650 in the US.

For more information about the device and how it works visit its Official Site for details.

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jane   |2008-03-27 18:52:46 Steelcase's product sounds cool, however it is so expensive, I don't think anyone in their right mind would pay that amount, specially when there is a lot cheaper product available that does the same thing. I and a bunch of my friends are now using the net runner that you can get for like $99 from http://www.thenetrunner.com/ Reply 0   0

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