Narrator: Dr. James Levine, a Mayo Clinic researcher, says that people are built to walk. He's studying the benefits of treadmill desks, which allow people to walk while they work — and may serve as another tool in the fight against obesity.

Dr. Levine: What we've ended up with are vertical desks that can be personalized for the individual user, can be moved anywhere in the office, at half the price of a cubicle, and can be integrated exactly into the activity levels of the user. They can be used while walking on a treadmill, they can be used while standing still, they can be used while seated. Health costs are crippling major corporations and small business in America. If we can come up with innovative ways to cut health costs, improve health and happiness at work, and increase productivity, we must be onto a winning ticket.

Narrator: Of course, treadmill desks aren't the only option for office exercise. Park at the far end of the parking lot, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and walk during your lunch break. You can even hold informal meetings while walking the halls or outdoors. If you sit at your desk most of the day, trade your office chair for a large fitness ball and look for opportunities to stand. If you walk on the job, pick up the pace. Anything to keep you moving helps burn calories.

VIDEO HELP

If the video does not play, you may need to download and install the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player. For additional troubleshooting tips, browse the Multimedia FAQ.