There's a gap between the science and the reality of business
I remember having a real estate agent tell me that her company funded gym memberships for all the agents. I assume this was one of those not-so-subtle hints that they needed to care about how they look, but in IT it's a different matter. I raised it with my company, but it didn't go any further than my branch manager.
Being in IT means being in a high risk health environment. Exercise helps prevent illness (less sick days), it makes people more productive (do their jobs more effectively), in addition to generally being a good thing. A recent study, for example, found that people who were given 2.5 hours a week to exercise as opposed to doing nothing or not taking that time were actually better workers, having exercise programs should be on every IT manager's minds.
At the moment, I'm consigning myself to going for a walk each lunch time (exercise before eating boosts one's metabolism, as well as the benefits of getting fresh air and sun - especially walking where there are trees), and going to the gym in my own time. The data strongly supports the benefits of exercise beyond lifestyle choices or simply trying to look good, so the challenge is seeing how that translates into meaningful action.
