Editorial: Workplace Physical Activity and Health Risks: A Need for Effective Screening and Intervention Strategies

Abstract

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has adopted a global strategy on physical activity and health since 2005, with an aim to reduce and reverse the constant rise in these health risks globally [1]. However, most recent statistics about mortality rates caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD) are on the rise, with an estimated 17.5 million in 2012, representing 31% of all global deaths, and with an estimated 15.1 million of the of these deaths due to coronary heart disease and stroke (WHO 2014). Therefore, engaging individuals, especially those who are at high CVD risk such as sedentary and obese and older populations, in a variety of exercise and physical activity patterns in order to specifically target the reduction of these risks, perhaps provides a major challenge for health professionals of this century. Perhaps, identifying appropriate settings using a multifaceted approach could help in ensuring effective health and risk reduction outcomes and longterm compliance.