Running head: UNMET HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 OBJECTIVES

Factors Contributing to Unmet Healthy People 2020

Objectives to Employee Physical Activity
LaToya Parker
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
November 24, 2014

UNMET HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 OBJECTIVES

Only about 22% of overstock.com employees have met the Healthy People 2020
objective for physical activity and it is my duty as the health educator to create an analysis for
this low rate. The Healthy People 2020 objective is to increase the amount of adults that
participate in aerobic physical activity for the designated time for moderate and vigorous
intensity (United States Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], Healthy People 2020,
2014). Healthy People 2020, estimate that the guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening
activities are not being met by more than 80 percent of adults (HHS, Healthy People 2020,
2014). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2011) state that physical inactivity
can to lead obesity and type 2 diabetes. There are 24 hours in a day and the average adult, age 25
to 54 with children under 18, spends 8.7 of those hours working and doing other related
activities. This paper will address the three most impactful factors that may negatively influence
physical activity as it relates to the socio-ecological model.
Regarding the socio-ecological model (SEM), there are several factors related to the
model that could possibly contribute to the large population of inactive employees at
overstock.com. The low level of aerobic activity in comparison to the guidelines provided by
Healthy People 2020 will be examined through the lenses of the socio-ecological that explain
how multiple levels influence inactivity. Considering the amount of time that Americans spend at
work there may be a relationship between time spent at work and physical inactivity. Employees
lack of time to work out is in the organizational, social institution level of the SEM. According to
the Principles and foundations of Health Promotion & Education (2009), the organizational, level
is the regulations, polices, and informal structures that may restrict or promote a health behavior.
Secondly, low motivation which is the intrapersonal level of the SEM may influence the
low levels of physical activity. After a long day of work employees may be tired and doing

UNMET HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 OBJECTIVES

anything other than cooking, cleaning or preparing for the next work day could be exhausting.
Similarly, to low motivation, the perception of great effort needed for exercise could factor into
the reasoning of the below average rate of the employee physical activity. Being that the staff
spends a lot of time on the computer they may perceive exercise as being strict and structural but
physical activity may consist of leisure activities such as gardening, playing a sport, or walking a
pet.
Overstock.com is an online retailer in the United States, the environment for the
employees is sedentary. Within the SEM, sedentary work environments are in the physical
environment level. The CDC states that 38.6% of workers that spend most of their days sitting
are obese (Wellness at Work, 2014). Consequently, the culture of the office is another aspect to
consider as a reasonable factor of low physical activity of employees. There could be a negative
shared belief about physical activity among colleagues and superiors at overstock.com impacting
the leisure activity within peers.
Lack of encouragement, support, or companionship from family and friends is another
factor influencing the lack of physical activity. This factor is represented by the interpersonal
level of the SEM. Within Overstock.com the absence or shortage of support from a social
network at work has a negative impact on physical activity. Companies usually provide
employees with a lunch break but it is rare to find a company that will allow employees to have a
break to workout, during a normal work day.

UNMET HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 OBJECTIVES

SparkPeoples recognize that employees are the most valuable assets to any company
(2010). Developing a workplace wellness program is a possible intervention to help the
employees at Overstock.com, meet the Healthy People 2020 target for aerobic physical activity.
The program would encompass policy changes and on-site fitness programs. The CEO would
find this program to be beneficial to his staff because healthy employees tend to be happier and
more productive (Noelcke, 2010).
The wellness program provides staff with social support in becoming more physical
active. With a large group of people with a similar common goal in mind which is to increase
aerobic physical activity that will allow individuals to communicate and motivate, one another
towards their perceived goals which will aid in the interpersonal level of support from
colleagues. The interactions among employees may provide their peers with motivation and
encouragement when needed. As well as motivation and accountability among peers could aid in
the success of increasing physical activity.
Looking at the public policy factor on the local level, Overstock.com could implement a
policy to focus on allotting time to employees, so they can exercise during their shifts. This
intervention focuses on the organization segment for lack of time to work out. The on-site gym
that would be provided for staff, could significantly increase and help employees maintain their
aerobic activity. Meetings could also be structured in a non-sedentary approach where the
meetings are centered on physical activity allowing those in the meeting an opportunity to walk
and talk while they met.

UNMET HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 OBJECTIVES

Reference Page
Cottrell, R., Girvan, J., McKenzie, J., & Seabert, D. (2009). Theories and Planning Models. In
Principles & foundations of health promotion and education (6th ed., pp. 99-100). San
Francisco: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings.
Noelcke, L. (2010). Advantages of Workplace Wellness Programs. Retrieved November 19,
2014, from http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=246
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion. Healthy People 2020. Washington, DC. Available at
[http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/physical-activity]. Accessed
[2014, November 16].
Wellness at Work. (2014, May 8). Retrieved November 19, 2014, from
http://www.cdc.gov/features/WorkingWellness/index.html