Exercise in the workplace

Researcher

Ayazullah Safi

Aims of research

Ayazullah, a PhD researcher based within the University's School of Health Sciences, aims to assess the current physical activity levels of staff members from across the University. He will examine more than 500 staff members, before implementing a range of activities designed to get staff more active, improving both their physical and mental health.

Method of research

It is recommended that adults take part in 150 minutes' worth of moderate physical activity each week, including walking, swimming and cycling. Alongside this, adults should also carry out strength exercises at least twice a week.

Ayazullah will use a mixture of research methods, including questionnaires and focus groups, as well as encouraging staff to record details of their physical activity levels while wearing an ActiGraph monitor, measuring their heartrate and intensity of any activity they take part in. From these results, Ayazullah will then look at implementing a range of activities to encourage staff to get active.

Benefits

With poor health and fitness levels causing sick days and negative impacts on employees' success, Ayazullah will monitor and assess staff members' physical activity to identify new ways in which they can boost their activity levels and, in turn, improve their health.

Ayazullah is one of 50 STEAM scholars at the University, whose research is funded as part of our £3 million initiative to create new subject knowledge and to power cultural, societal and economic improvements in the West Midlands.