NIH Follows Own Advice, Takes a Hike

NIH’s own research suggests that walking and running regularly may lower your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, strengthen your bones and muscles and help to maintain a healthy weight. 

Many NIH’ers followed their agency’s exercise recommendations at the 12th annual Take a Hike Day, a non-competitive fun walk/run on June 12. 

The hike is “a great statement that we are the National Institutes of Health, and we care about our health,” said NIH director Dr. Francis Collins at the starting line in front of Bldg. 1. “We’re always preaching to other people about how to be healthy. Now, we have an opportunity to demonstrate our concern about ourselves.” 

A regular exerciser himself, Collins encouraged employees to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. “It’s supposed to be really good for your longevity,” he added. “We want all of you to be around a long time because we depend on you to make NIH an amazing enterprise.”

This year, 1,272 NIH’ers registered to walk or jog the 3.25-mile loop around the campus perimeter or a route at one of several off-campus locations, said Chris Gaines, program manager for NIH fitness and wellness services. Participants from NIEHS’s Research Triangle Park campus in North Carolina and NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories took part in the hike for the first time. 

To learn more about NIH-sponsored events that support your financial, social, career, physical and community well-being, check out https://wellnessatnih.ors.od.nih.gov.—Eric Bock