PTrondheim, Norway - April 09, 2024 – A new milestone in public health has been reached. For the first time, two municipalities have actively engaged in a large-scale preventive public health campaign. Myworkout, a leading Norwegian research-based fitness app, has facilitated this groundbreaking initiative, delivering significant improvements in community health and well-being.
Photo: Telen
The Optime Challenge was initiated by Optime Subsea, leveraging Myworkout’s technology and expertise, along with media support from Telen. The campaign aimed to give back to the community, equipping citizens with tools and knowledge to improve their health.
Optime Subsea invited Notodden’s business community to take part in the campaign and challenged Notodden Municipality—the town’s largest employer—to join. This marked the first time a public health provider and a municipality have collaborated on such a comprehensive preventive health initiative in Norway.
Inactivity remains a costly burden for businesses and society. As physical activity levels decline, the risk of lifestyle diseases increases. Currently, over 40% of Norwegians are at high risk of developing such conditions, which negatively impacts quality of life and life expectancy.
The Norwegian Directorate of Health recommends that adults aged 18-64 engage in 150-300 minutes of moderate exercise or 75-150 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week. However, Myworkout’s research suggests that just 32 minutes of high-intensity training (HIT) per week can yield significant health benefits. Achieving this goal could save Norway up to NOK 455 billion annually in healthcare costs.
The Phase 2 report of the Optime Challenge reveals substantial health improvements among participants:
Participation statistics were equally impressive:
Signe, Public Health Coordinator for Notodden Municipality:“We saw far more registrations than expected. We could never have achieved this level of mobilization alone. It’s been a talking point across the municipality, and we now see Notodden as a more vibrant town. More people understand that raising their heart rate is key to health, and they are more informed about effective training methods.”
Hans-Olav Legger, Sports Consultant for Notodden Municipality:“The campaign has heightened awareness, especially regarding training efficiency. Internally, we see that 4x4 interval training has become common practice. Compared to previous campaigns, the Optime Challenge has been exceptionally engaging and has attracted a large number of participants. We’re excited to take part in Phase 3.”
The Optime Challenge has proven that cutting-edge technology and research-based training can create measurable health and economic benefits at a municipal level. Notodden has become a leading example of how municipalities can implement sustainable public health campaigns that drive long-term societal improvements.
Myworkout is a Norwegian research-based fitness app committed to improving public health through a digital, gamified approach. Focused on preventive health measures, Myworkout aims to create a healthier society by making leading exercise research accessible to everyone.
Do you want to host a large-scale wellness campaign for your community? Get in touch with us today to explore how we can help make it a success!
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