V06: Physical Opportunities

(3 points)

INTENT

Encourage regular physical activity and exercise through no cost physical activity opportunities and education.

SUMMARY

This WELL feature requires projects to provide no cost physical activity opportunities led by a qualified professional.

ISSUE

International physical activity recommendations address both cardiovascular and muscle strengthening activities for the general population. Despite widely disseminated guidelines, nearly a quarter of the general population fails to achieve physical activity guidelines and is considered physically inactive. Key determinants of physical activity behavior include time, convenience, motivation, self-efficacy, weather conditions, travel and family obligations, fear of injury, lack of social support and environmental barriers such as availability of sidewalks, parks and bicycle lanes.  

SOLUTIONS

The workplace is considered an effective platform through which a broad segment of the adult population can be reached. Workplace wellness programs and offerings are considered great steps toward decreasing barriers to physical activity engagement among employees. The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends worksite programs that make physical activity more readily available (e.g., providing health club memberships, changing insurance benefits, providing opportunities to be physically active) as a strategy to improve physical activity engagement. While some research supports structured programming through the workplace, more research is still needed to understand the efficacy of these strategies. Similar to the workplace, schools represent a ubiquitous platform through which to reach adolescents and youth. The Community Preventive Services Task Force reviewed school-based interventions targeting physical activity behavior and recommends classroom-based teaching strategies and physical education curriculum that incorporate activity as promising strategies to increase physical activity among adolescents. When considering physical activity education and programming, it is important to consider the needs of the population that the project serves. Activities and education should be relevant to the population (i.e., ability and age appropriate). Projects should also seek to solicit on-going feedback from their population and make an effort to consider feedback in revisions to programmatic offerings.

IMPACT

We have much to gain by reducing barriers to physical activity beyond the individual benefits associated with physical activity. In a review conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two studies highlighted economic benefits of workplace programs, including reduced healthcare costs, decreased costs and days lost due to disability, reduced absenteeism and increased productivity.

REQUIREMENTS

Part 1

Implement Activity Programs for Employees (Max: 2 points)

Verified by Policy Document

For All Spaces

The following requirements are met:

1. Age and ability appropriate physical activity/exercise opportunities, led by a qualified professional, are offered to eligible employees at no cost at one of the frequencies shown in the table below:  

   Frequency	Points
   At least one event per month	1
   At least one event per week	2

 

Note: Projects (including educational facilities) may consider shared, off-site spaces toward Part 1: Provide Dedicated Activity Spaces provided they are within 200 m [656 ft] of the project boundary or located within the campus and are available to the project population at no cost.

ADDITIONAL POINT OPPORTUNITY
To earn an additional point for WELL Core and MFR Certification, projects should make programming available at no cost to tenants.

Part 2

Implement Activity Programs for Students (Max: 2 points)

Verified by Policy Document

For All Spaces

The following requirements are met for early childhood education and primary school students:

1. Meet one of the frequency requirements in the table below for physical activity opportunities (e.g., recess, physical education curriculum, before or after school programming):

   Frequency	Points
   > 180 minutes per week	1
   > 60 minutes per day	2

2. Have policies in place that stipulate physical activity opportunities are not to be withheld as a form of punishment.

 

Note: Physical activity programming for early childhood education or primary school students may occur before, during or after the school day. Recess is encouraged before mid-day lunch periods but may be included during other times of day if this cannot be accommodated. 

Projects (including educational facilities) may consider shared, off-site spaces toward Part 1: Provide Dedicated Activity Spaces provided they are within 200 m [656 ft] of the project boundary or located within the campus and are available to the project population at no cost.

© International WELL Building Institute