Posters nudge British workers to take the stairs

Stair use has increased by 29% in buildings with the posters.

WHILE more restaurant chains are putting up calorie counts of their menu items, a British initiative has a novel idea: install posters in offices and public buildings displaying how many calories you’ll burn by taking the stairs versus the elevator.

StepJockey, a British government-backed startup that launched this week, bases its principles on the “nudge theory”, with posters and a new app that employees can download to calculate how many calories they burn when walking up flights of stairs rather than using elevators or escalators.

In buildings where posters are displayed, stair use increased by 29%, and employees who downloaded the app were five times more likely to walk up stairs, the website reports.

The UK Department of Health and London Mayor Boris Johnson provided funding for the project, The Independent reports.

”It is really important that we all do as much exercise as we can to reduce the risk of preventable illness and lead longer, healthier lives,” added Lord Howe, minister for health, according to The Independent. – AFP Relaxnews