A FLAB-BUSTING American has backed a campaign by a Basingstoke hospital to get office workers to exercise.

Jessie Pavelka, a fitness trainer who has appeared in Sky’s Obese: A Year to Save My Life, appears in three videos made with physiotherapists from BMI The Hampshire Clinic.

Jessie visited the private hospital, in Basing Road, Old Basing, on Monday to promote the videos.

The Workout@Work campaign is aimed to get people who work at a desk to perform exercises in the office for 30 minutes a day.

The exercises are split into 10-minute sessions, which focus on stretching, toning and cardio.

Jessie, 31, said: “It’s extremely important to do exercise at work.

“The majority of us sit in front of our computers all day and it’s important that we get up and move because otherwise we are just living in our heads.”

He said the videos, which will go live online on Monday, June 2, are aimed to increase people’s heart-rate without getting them too sweaty.

Sitting for long periods without adequate breaks can increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and can lead to stress, depression or anxiety.

It is estimated that days lost due to work-related ill-health costs the UK around £15billion a year in lost economic output.

Jessie said: “If we are not taking care of our employees, then everybody suffers. It’s important for the employer to encourage movement and activity in their employee’s day.

“It is going to help everyone, and it will help the business’ productivity – the employees take that 10-minute break and they’ll come back feeling fresh.”

Visit the Workout@Work website bmihealthcare.co.uk/workoutatwork.