In a pioneering 12-month research study conducted by the Department of Epidemiology & Preventative Medicine and Monash University, the positive and long-term effects of the GCC have been made evident. Not only did participants increase their physical activity levels by over 350%, but they demonstrated significant and sustained improvements in blood pressure, waist circumference and BMI eight months after completion of the program.

"This is the only long term study conducted on a pedometer based workplace intervention," Leading Australian Nutritionists and GCC co-founder, Shane Bilsborough said. "While the World Health Organisation recommends that we walk 10,000 steps a day, the 60,000 individuals taking part in GCC throughout 2009, averaged an overwhelming 10,900 steps. If this program can be rolled out to more workers and individuals across Australia - think of the long term benefits this could bring to the health of our country."

This groundbreaking research indicates that positive and continued lifestyle and attitude changes initiated by the GCC and companies across Australia can be ongoing.

"This has demonstrated for the first time that participation in the GCC has the potential to achieve long term health and wellbeing benefits for the Australian workforce. We found that one year after the start of the program sustained improvements in waist circumference and blood pressure were still evident. Further to this, increased physical activity had still been maintained," said Dr Anna Peters, senior research fellow at Monash University.

Physical inactivity has been linked to increasing the risk of over 20 chronic diseases which in turn costs governments and businesses valuable time and resources. With healthy employees being nearly three times more productive than their unhealthy counterparts, this issue is affecting the workplace, productivity and the bottom line of any company.

Analysis of biomedical, physical and behavioural factors of 757 workers from 10 different organisations participating in the GCC has found that even 12-months after the commencement of the study:

• Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was reduced by 2.76 and 2.44 mmHg respectively
• Participants lost an average of 2cm off their waist
• Participants were less stressed, more motivated and reported an increase in energy levels

For more information go to www.gettheworldmoving.com. The 2010 Global Corporate Challenge Program will begin on 20 May 2010.