Bupa Global Challenge 2012 gallery

Bupa China employees and community partners enjoyed a walk on the Great Wall to highlight the importance of walking. In China, a reduction in walking has seen an increase in obesity levels among drivers. Encouraging people to walk in place of taking the car benefits both the health of individuals and the environment.
Photograph: Bupa

Over 400 people walked to a Well World around a 5km circuit at Bosque de Chapultepec national park at the ‘Caminar es Especial’ (Walking is Special) event in Mexico to enjoy the benefits of walking. Research carried out for Bupa in 13 countries showed that significant numbers of people admit that they still use their cars for journeys which are short enough to walk. In Mexico, 8 percent of people agreed with the statement: ‘I regularly make short journeys by car that I could walk.’ Photograph: Bupa

Walking can be fun and healthy! Gold Medal winning British Olympian Greg Rutherford demonstrates how with the Bupa Brisk Walk in London. The newly devised ‘Bupa Brisk Walk’ highlights getting the maximum benefit out of walking whilst looking a bit silly at the same time. Regardless of the way you walk – it’s accessible, easy, free and a powerful way to better health. It can reduce obesity, heart risk and type 2 diabetes as well as relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Photograph: Bupa

Walking can improve mental health, the greatest psychological benefits have been found where people walk in green outdoor spaces. Our care home businesses in the UK, Australia and New Zealand held and took part in Memory Walks where over 30,000 employees, community members, family and residents walked to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s. Here employees and residents from Willoughby Care home in Sydney, Bupa Care Services Australia take part in a local Memory Walk. Photograph: Bupa

Businesses of all sizes should introduce workplace schemes that encourage employees to walk more. Walking is not only good for your health but provides business benefits too, boosting energy, improving thinking and increasing productivity. Here employees from Bupa Health and Wellbeing UK walk together during their lunch for Bupa Global Challenge. Photograph: Bupa

Walking can help reduce carbon emissions. A survey of 13 countries by Bupa showed that one in 10 people admit that they still use their cars for journeys which are short enough to walk. If we all took the car less and walked more we could all contribute to a healthier planet. Employees, friends, residents and family walked in beautiful Paars Park, Oratia, New Zealand, instead of driving. Photograph: Bupa

Walking with mans best friend can be a strong motivator for stepping out regularly. Here Dixie the great dane became a Bupa employee for the day and walked from Northlands House to Kinights Grove in Hampshire UK. Photograph: Bupa

Physical activity, including walking can improve the physical and psychological health of older adults, but this may become challenging in later life. Walking can aid recovery and increase independence which is why our care home staff encourage assisted walking for those that find it more difficult and in our hospitals we encourage walking for recovery. On the 21 September, International Alzheimer’s Day, employees and residents from over 40 of our Sanitas Residencial care homes took part in ‘Caminamos hacia un mudo mejor’ (Walking to a Well World) for Bupa Global Challenge, to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and released bio-degradable balloons at the same time all over the country as a symbol of solidarity. Photograph: Bupa

Studies have shown that walking has higher levels of ‘stickability’ than other forms of physical activity. Bupa Global Challenge 2012 was just the start of creating healthy habits to continue to keep people well and support a healthy planet. In Bupa Thailand, a 5k walk in Bangkok was just one part of their wider ‘Let’s Move’ programme working with corporate partners and their employees to encourage regular physical activity, helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives. Photograph: Bupa