Start-up labels high-rise buildings for calorie burn as part of radical new health initiative
17 September 2013 - A new start-up has been launched that aims to tackle obesity and promote fitness by labelling the stairs of the world for calorie burn.
The idea is grounded in behavioural economics and is designed to improve the health and wellbeing of office workers and commuters, creating healthier buildings across the world.
The StepJockey website allows any set of stairs to be mapped and rated for calorie burn in moments. Once stairs are rated, you can print off a set of FREE smart posters immediately or order a set of smart signs with NFC. All StepJockey smart posters and signs can be read by the StepJockey app allowing users to track their performance and share with colleagues.
By using StepJockey smart signs to label stairs for calorie burn, organisations will quickly and seamlessly encourage greater fitness among staff. They will also be sending a clear signal to their staff, clients and directors that they value a healthy working environment and take corporate citizenship seriously.
StepJockey can also have direct and positive impact on the management of high-rise buildings and corporate estates because it naturally reduces demand on lift and escalator systems. This leads to reduced lift congestion and waiting times, improved way-finding, carbon savings and improved fire-safety.
Unusually for a tech company, StepJockey is founded by a woman. Helen Nuki, a behavioural economics expert and mother of four, who had the idea after her seven-year-old daughter, Litzi, wondered why official signs, “Only tell you about the things that are bad for you”.
“StepJockey is about looking at the positive and promoting fitness for everyone a little bit at a time”, says Helen.
“We tell people how many calories are in food but we don’t tell them where they can burn them off. Through StepJockey, we are offering the opportunity to put that right”.
“The world is a gym and through StepJockey we aim to positively label it as such”.
It takes just one person to rate a set of stairs or building to have a positive impact on everyone who uses that building.
The initiative is evidence-based, and in trials involving more than 250,000 stair/lift journeys, stair climbing increased by up to 29% when the building was equipped with StepJockey smart signs. When office workers were able to track and gamify their stair climbing, stair use jumped by over 500%.
To get started businesses can order smart signs online at http://www.stepjockey.com or arrange a full site survey including the design and manufacture of bespoke, co-branded signs.
Ends
StepJockey media contact:
Nina Whitby
44 203 397 8377
44 7870 279 521
Notes for Editors
Research and evidence:
In the trial the presence of signs significantly increased stair usage, with upward stair journeys increasing by up to 29%The most influenced by the intervention were people who were overweight (BMI over 25), infrequent takers of physical activity and women.When individuals were able to track and compare their progress stair usage increased five-fold.92% of new stair climbers said it would become a habit.
Links to key research findings on stair climbing and health can be found at https://www.stepjockey.com/science
Company benefits:
An effective and affordable way to promote health throughout the workplaceImproves staff engagement and productivityUnlike other wellness plans, does not require active participation to benefit allClearly signals to clients and stakeholders that you value a healthy environmentHelps meet Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) standards Reduced lift congestion, carbon emissions and improved fire safety
Case study
Jane is 45 years old, weighs 75kg and is 172 cms tall and commutes to her job in the Housing Association in central London every day. She climbs up and down the stairs in Elephant and Castle tube station one a day and climbs up and down the stairs in her four-storey office in Victoria twice a day. Overall she burns an extra 76.5 calories per day by climbing the stairs. This equates to 17,595 calories per year (based on 230 working days in the year), which is equivalent to 8.5 days of food or 2.3kg of fat. Perhaps most important of all, the extra exercise moves her into the safe BMI range.
About StepJockey
The StepJockey initiative is backed by the Department of Health via the Small Business Research Initiative, a government scheme that promotes innovation in areas that bring public benefits.
For more information, images and product details go to: https://www.stepjockey.com/
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