V11: Physical Activity Promotion

(1 point)

INTENT

Encourage physical activity and active lifestyles through diverse monetary and non-monetary incentive offerings.

SUMMARY

This WELL feature requires projects to provide at least two types of physical activity incentives and monitor uptake of incentive offerings.

ISSUE

Physical inactivity has emerged as a primary focus of public health due to a rise in premature mortality and chronic diseases attributed to inactive lifestyles, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, stroke and some forms of cancer.

SOLUTIONS

Physical activity incentives can take on many forms including monetary and non-monetary types. Both types are available through this feature. Leading public health advocates recommend as effective strategies to improve physical activity engagement both a) worksite programs that make physical activity more accessible and/or available and b) providing or enhancing opportunities to be physically active.  Promising worksite programs include counseling, health promotion messaging and workplace walking programs. There is also some evidence to support incentives, although researchers caution that more is needed to fully understand these strategies. In a systematic review examining different incentives, conditional incentives—particularly those that rewarded positive physical activity behavior—were effective at improving physical activity levels as compared to unconditional incentives (e.g., subsidized memberships that do not require participation). In addition, a randomized controlled trial in a U.S. population found that a combination of individual and team rewards for physical activity behavior was effective at improving physical activity engagement during the intervention period and those positive outcomes were reversed/reduced when the incentives were removed. Studies have shown that incentives are particularly effective as part of multi-component interventions such as those that also aim to increase self-awareness of activity behaviors. Projects should consider incentives as part of a comprehensive approach to wellness offerings and take care to consider what incentives are meaningful to the population they serve. Additionally, special care must be given when implementing these types of initiatives to ensure that they are achieving their core goals while maintaining equity and limiting unintended consequences such as stigma or discrimination. For example, projects should not set minimum participation requirements that are unreasonable or that eliminate the possibility of achieving desired outcomes for certain groups of participants as this would be counterproductive to promoting health behavior change.

IMPACT

In addition to design strategies that aim to foster physical activity opportunities, WELL seeks to leverage programmatic strategies that aim to improve physical activity engagement.

REQUIREMENTS

Part 1

Promote Physical Activity (1 point)

Verified by Policy Document

For All Spaces

Employee programs:

Projects provide at least two of the following physical activity incentives for all eligible employees:   

1. Financial rewards including direct payments or subsidies, gift cards or prizes.

    
2. Tax-exempt payroll deductions related to active transportation, mass transportation or other types of physical activity opportunities (e.g., gym membership).
3. Bike share memberships, gym memberships, fitness classes or other types of opportunities (e.g., races, sports teams or training) that are offered at no cost or subsidized by at least 50%.
4. Healthcare bonuses (e.g., additional coverage for health programs or lower co-pays and/or premiums).
5. Paid time off (at least one eight-hour day per quarter).
6. Flexible scheduling to accommodate physical activity that is not deducted from paid time off.
7. Other non-monetary awards or programs (e.g., employee recognition, wellness challenges or similar activities).

Student programs:

Early childhood education, primary and secondary schools develop and implement the following programs:  

1. A program that aims to reduce daily time spent in at least one of the following sedentary behaviors:

   1. TV viewing.
   2. Recreational computer or smartphone use.
   3. Video gaming.
   4. Other recreational, screen-based sedentary behaviors.

2. A program that aims to promote daily physical activity through at least one of the following:

   1. Teaching strategies that incorporate movement and activity into the lesson.
   2. Physical education.
   3. Recess or similar physical activity breaks.
   4. Combined school-based physical education and community-based interventions such as those that engage families or foster community partnerships.

ADDITIONAL POINT OPPORTUNITY
To earn an additional point for Commercial Core, projects should provide incentives to tenants.

Part 2

Promote Participation Awareness (1 point)

Verified by On-going Data Report

For All Spaces

The following requirement is met:   

1. Projects maintain awareness of engagement in physical activity promotion programs and report anonymized monthly averages submitted annually through WELL Online.  

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