Fit for Office.
The Results
Overall Active Challengers Total:
170
Workouts – 3,807
Duration – 14,714 Hrs
MEPs – 395,835
Calories burned – 2,021,867
Top MP MEP Earners
Dr Andrew Leigh MP
Angus Taylor MP
Dr Helen Haines MP
Scott Burgess – (Angie Bell MP Office)
Top Office MEP Average- with 4 or more office participants
Angie Bell MP
Top Office Highest Total MEPs
Dr Helen Haines MP
Lead Female Political Office staffer
Camelia – (Dr Helen Haines MP Office)
Thank you to all the politicians who got involved, our goal for the Fit For Office challenge, was to encourage more movement and for our politicians to inspire from the top. At AUSactive we appreciate that our members & and the 26 politicians involved in the challenge have been incredible role models to our communities, setting the example of how important it is to be active for our physical and mental health.
Until next year! stay tuned for something bigger and better 💪🏽
What is Fit for Office?
Fit for Office is a four-week, friendly competition that will run from 25th September to 22nd October 2023 between Federal MP’s and their staff to see who can be the most physically active.
The challenge is an initiative from AUSactive, Australia's peak body for the exercise and active health sector, and MyZone to encourage Australians to be more physically active, more often, to tackle Australia’s inactivity and health crisis and relieve the economic burden on the healthcare system.
The aim of the campaign is to inspire all Australians to be more physically active and spark the conversation about the importance of exercise. Physical inactivity is a major public health issue in Australia.
Modelled on successful US and UK campaigns, MP’s will be provided with a Myzone heart rate monitor that can be worn on the chest, wrist or upper arm to log their physical activity before, during and after the workday. Participants will be able to follow a live leaderboard to monitor their progress against each other.
In November, the winners will be awarded for the most active MP, the most active staff member, the office staff with the highest points and most office staff participants to reach the World Health Organisation Guidelines for Physical Activity- 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity) per week.
How is the challenge scored?
Myzone has developed a unique measurement called “MYZONE Effort Points” (MEPs) that uses heart rate data to quantify physical activity based on each person’s effort. The more effort you put in, the more MEPs per minute you earn. This “levels the playing field” in ways that simply steps, distance, or minutes cannot which is most inclusive. All activity will count!
Why is AUSactive hosting this campaign?
As the peak body for exercise and active health, AUSactive is passionate about promoting exercise as preventative health. This campaign strongly supports the Australian Government’s commitment (in 2018), to the World Health Organisation’s Global Action Plan for Physical Activity and we want to help the government to inspire 15% more Australians to be more active by 2030.
Fit for Office Launch at Parliament House
More than 14 Federal parliamentary members and 70 of their staff have so far signed up for the four-week friendly challenge from 25 September to 22 October to encourage Aussies to be active more often and raise awareness of the importance of regular physical activity.
"Huffy puffy pollies get physical for a healthy cause"
"Politicians on a roll to prove they're Fit for Office"
"MPs demonstrate they are ‘Fit for Office’ with Exercise Challenge"
How can people get involved?
From 25th September to 22nd October, use your Myzone (or alternative) tracking device to show that you have reached World Health Organisation Guidelines for Physical Activity – 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity) per week, and where possible, 2 or more days a week of muscle-strengthening activities.
Make sure you share your workouts on social media with #fitforoffice and tag your local Federal Politician!
Find your Federal Member HERE
Why is physical activity important?
Australia is ranked 140th out of 146 countries for the highest physical inactivity levels for adolescents and over 56% of Australian adults are not meeting recommended physical activity guidelines.
Physical inactivity is the second leading risk factor contributing to chronic disease in Australia. Not getting enough physical activity is associated with anxiety and depression and increases the risk of many diseases such as type 2 diabetes, bowel cancer, dementia, coronary heart disease, strokes, uterine and breast cancer in females.
Increasing rates of chronic disease are having an alarming impact on workforce productivity, and economic opportunity- the Australian health system spends an estimated $27 billion per annum treating chronic diseases and we spend $450 each year for every man, woman and child in Australia treating mental health issues.
Yet these conditions are somewhat preventable by increasing the physical activity of the population.
The preventative health benefits of physical activity include up to a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease, 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, 30% lower risk of falls in older adults, 50% lower risk of colon cancer, 20% lower risk of breast cancer and 83% lower risk of osteoarthritis
We also have a significant opportunity to support older adults to remain independent in their homes through promoting exercise, that prevents age related health conditions such as impaired muscle function that can result in falls and hospitalisation.
Physical activity is an important adjunct approach for managing anxiety and depression because data shows exercise can be 1.5 times more effective than counselling or pharmaceuticals.
Physical activity is also associated with higher levels of workplace productivity that reduce sickness absence, improve performance at work and reduce the risk of mortality.
