Universal College of Learning

Sport Manawatu are working collaboratively with UCOL in the iWorkWell programme. UCOL have qualified, experienced and  proffessional  lecturers who will oversee the testing and will provide their testing facilities, equipment and Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science students. Contracted by MidCentral District Health Board, UCOL are providing the following services:

• Health and Fitness testing of randomly selected individuals
• Activity monitoring through the Cooper Points system
• Re-testing at 6 month and 12 month intervals
• Evaluation of the iWorkWell programme

Health and Fitness Testing

With about 1000 individuals on the iWorkWell programme, UCOL are randomly selecting approximately 200 people to be health and fitness tested. These individuals will be measured for :

• Weight
• Height
• BMI
• Hip to waist ratio
• Heart rate
• Blood pressure
• Body fat percentage
• VO2 max

All these tests give an indication of a person's health risk.   Each participant who is tested receives an individualised wellness report. To view a report click here.

Latest Test Results

After the latest testing from November 2011, the results show:

• Low levels of physical activity

Employees need to increase their current levels of physical activity. The recommended amount of activity is three times per week at an intensity to sweat. Results show on average employees are only achieving half this level.

• Low cardio fitness levels

Participants were tested for V02 levels where low levels of fitness significantly increases a persons risk for health problems (such as obesity, cardio vascular disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer). On average employees fell just short of this required level.

• Marginal cholesterol levels

Employees were blood tested to measure cholesterol and blood sugar levels with most results only just within the normal range. Improvement needs to occur to bring blood sugar and cholesterol down to a safer level.

• Mental health strain

Surprisingly it was shown that approxiamately half of all staff are showing some type of mental strain. This may range from unhappiness to an inability to cope. Left untreated this can lead to burnout and depression.

• Weight gain

45% of the workforce is overweight. This includes 15% of workers who are termed as obese.

How iWorkWell Can Help

These results can all be improved through more exercise and healthy eating. Regular daily exercise and activity has been shown to reduce weight, improve fitness, decrease cholesterol and improve mental wellbeing. As little as 30 minutes a day is all it takes and this can be split up into three  10 minute slots. Healthy eating has also been proven to provide similar health benefits.  

iWorkWell has seven focus areas including iPlayWell to improve levels of sport and active recreation; iEatWell to promote healthy food choices and iThinkWell to better mental health. An iWorkWell Coordinator can come to your workplace to discuss how your work staff and workplace environment can benefit from the iWorkWell programme.

Cooper Points System

A scoring system, devised in the 1960s by Dr Kenneth C. Cooper, to compare the beneficial effects of different aerobic exercises on the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. Each exercise is awarded points dependent on the type of exercise, its frequency, intensity, and duration. For example, a two mile walk completed in under 30 minutes, performed five times a week, scores 25 points; four sessions of aerobic dance classes per week scores 36 points.

Dr Cooper argued that in order to develop cardiovascular fitness and protect the heart a person needs to earn at least 30 aerobic points each week. He popularised his ideas in eleven books selling more than 20 million copies worldwide. In 1970 he established the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas for research into the value of exercise and the practice of preventative, diagnostic, and rehabilitative medicine. His top five forms of aerobic exercise are:

• Cross-country skiing
• Swimming
• Jogging
• Cycling
• Walking

To load your points go to the UCOL page.

Cooper Points System information taken from "http://www.jrank.org/food/pages/1443/aerobic-points- (Cooper-points).html"