Nearly two thirds of the globe's population is now so physically inactive that their health is in jeopardy.

And yet the benefits of being physically active are irrefutable. Keeping moving keeps ill-health at bay, improves your mood, and can be a great way to socialize.

For businesses, the effects posed by our sedentary lifestyles can be costly. Studies show that physically inactive employees take 27 per cent more days of sick leave than those who are physically active.

Although it's hard to change habits overnight the good news is that simply being active increases your life span, no matter what your age is.

Simply put, all the research that's been done points to physical activity having a protective effect on our health and well-being.

At Philips we provide people-centered solutions and we know that getting active isn't easy for everyone, especially people working long hours at demanding jobs. That's why we've developed DirectLife, a program that is aimed at getting people more active. DirectLife consists of three elements; a tiny activity monitor records the calorie burn of every movement you make, your own on-line plan that displays your calorie burn and where you can monitor your progress and a real-life personal coach to give advice and encouragement.

Designed for use as part of company's wellness program and based on scientifically proven behavior change programs and validated tools, DirectLife's 12-week program challenges people to be more active.

DirectLife shows you your current activity levels and motivates you to increase them by making small changes to your everyday life. This program is not about doing a lot more exercise, it’s about increasing your activity level – a much easier way to improve your overall fitness. With DirectLife, you notice yourself becoming fitter just by doing a little bit more of the things you do every day. A quick walk here, a few stairs there – these are the things that make all the difference.