You can reduce the risk of stress by 26% – a full 26%. That is an incredible number. Think about the consequences and costs stress has for individuals, their families and your business. And think about the fact that we can actually do something about it relatively easily.

Because there was really just one thing that made the difference in the latest stress study from the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA):

Those who had a 26% lower risk of severe stress were physically active for 30 minutes a day. That’s it.

Physically active at moderate intensity, meaning getting your heart rate up a little, just like with Tæl Hjerter. It sounds almost too simple.

And then, of course, the questions start:

– “I don’t have time for that.”
– “What kind of physical activity should I do?”
– “Where am I supposed to do it?”
– “How do I know when I’ve done enough?”

The challenges quickly pile up. And these are some of the typical reasons why individuals, businesses and politicians stop before getting started.

Even though the solutions are already there, like Tæl Hjerter, and the benefits are obvious.

A professional stress programme typically costs DKK 15,000–25,000. If an employee becomes seriously affected by stress and goes on sick leave, the total cost to the company can easily exceed DKK 200,000. These are enormous costs we are forced to deal with once the damage has already been done.

It makes little sense that we don’t invest more in prevention. The ROI can be significant.

Across Denmark, NFA has calculated that stress-related absence costs Danish workplaces at least DKK 16.4 billion every year, including DKK 10.4 billion related to sick leave. At the same time, 61.9 million working hours are lost. That has a major impact on productivity, at a time when we are already lacking the people and skills needed in the workforce.

So let’s get started and bring more physical activity into everyday life. It’s not just good for our health. It’s good business too.

With 3 million people in the Danish workforce, workplaces are a natural place to start. But it’s not only the responsibility of businesses to act. Politicians also have a role to play by creating incentive models that motivate companies and employees and make it easier and more attractive to be physically active.

No more talking. It’s time to act before it’s too late. The number of physically inactive people in Denmark has reached 52%. In 2017, it was 29%.

That is a serious development, and it is reflected in the rising costs of treating disease, stress and more.

“Investments in public health should be seen as investments, not expenses.”

That’s what Minister for Health Ida Auken said in an interview with A4 Sundhed. We couldn’t agree more.

And this doesn’t only apply to the healthcare system, where treatment costs have exploded. It also applies to businesses.

Disability benefit payouts alone increased by 5.3% to DKK 10.92 billion in 2025. According to Velliv, mental health conditions accounted for 50% of their payouts. The Danish Health Authority has calculated that physical inactivity directly costs businesses DKK 6.8 billion in lost productivity and 572,000 sick days.

We simply have to do something about this. Now. And together. We cannot afford not to.

And getting started is actually not that difficult.

According to the World Health Organization and the Danish Health Authority, we simply need to move and get our heart rate up a little. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk at a brisk pace every now and then. Do a few squats, or knæbøjninger, as we used to call them.

There is no shortage of evidence that physical activity benefits individuals, businesses and society as a whole.

Most recently, a large study from the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA), involving 75,000 people, found that moderate-intensity physical activity was associated with a 26% lower risk of severe stress.

26%. That’s a lot.

So why not prevent stress rather than risk losing valuable colleagues and spending money on expensive stress courses and treatment?

A great place to start is by creating the right opportunities and framework for physical activity in your workplace.

Not just for those who are already active and take part in DHL Relay races, step challenges and cycling competitions, but also for those who never participate.

We need to get the physically inactive involved. Because they are often the ones who show up in the statistics on sickness absence and stress.

And they will probably thank you for it.

7 out of 10 people actually want to be more physically active.

The ROI of investing in more active employees can be highly positive, so investing in physical activity should be a no-brainer.

I often hear arguments like: “We can’t afford to have employees spend 10 minutes a day being physically active.”

But when the numbers tell us the opposite, perhaps the real question is:

Can we afford not to?

Happier employees. More energy and capacity. Less illness and stress. Higher productivity.

That’s something we can all use.

And in a highly pressured labour market crying out for more capacity, more physically active employees could be part of the solution.

We don’t always need to work harder to create more energy and capacity in our everyday lives. Perhaps instead, we need to find more opportunities to incorporate movement into the working day we already have.

A new study from the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA) shows a clear link between physical activity and the risk of severe stress. The study, which followed nearly 75,000 people, found that around 30 minutes of daily physical activity was associated with a 26% lower risk of developing severe stress later in life. Even a few minutes of daily activity were associated with a lower risk.

What’s interesting is that movement doesn’t necessarily require an hour at the gym or a lot of extra time in the calendar. It can be a walking meeting, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, cycling to work or a few active minutes together with colleagues. NFA specifically points to these small changes as opportunities to bring more movement into the working day.

Movement should be for everyone

That is also the idea behind Tæl Hjerter.

We use heart rate to make physical activity concrete and visible. When your heart rate goes up, you collect Hearts, allowing employees to see whether they are reaching the WHO recommendations for physical activity, which equals 150 Hearts.

For us, it’s not about getting those who already exercise to exercise even more. It’s about getting more people involved and making it easier to move together.

Too little movement can be a challenge. But getting more movement into your day doesn’t have to be complicated. It can start with a walking meeting, an active break or simply a few extra minutes of movement throughout the day.

Read the full article from the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA)

This is what physiotherapist Mark Abildhauge says in a new kick-off video we have created for employees at a large Danish company. And it is an extremely important message.

Last week, Lars ‘only’ reached 138 Hearts instead of the 150 Hearts recommended by the World Health Organization. But Lars is still happy. After all, he kept moving and achieved more than nothing, which could easily have been the alternative after a tough week.

Sometimes you simply don’t have the energy, and that’s when it’s important to listen to your body. This is where heart rate is such a useful tool. It’s okay not to reach your goal every week. The most important thing is that you still do something and appreciate what you achieve, because a little is 100% better than nothing.

Why is it important to stay physically active? As Lars L. Andersen from the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA) says in a LinkedIn post, physical activity can be associated with up to a 26% lower risk of severe stress. At the same time, there is plenty of evidence that physical activity can reduce the risk of conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, while supporting brain health and potentially reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Our bodies don’t really care what kind of activity we do. What matters is that we move and get our heart rate up. So when we set a goal that is often too high and unrealistic, and only one thing counts, such as steps or kilometres, there is a much greater chance of failing. And when that happens, we often stop altogether. Then the same thing happens again the next time, and the next time, and the next time.

That’s why Tæl Hjerter is the easy choice and the right tool to help people become and stay physically active and find a sustainable pace at work:

First, every activity counts. From taking the stairs and doing squats by the coffee machine to cycling to and from work or going for a walk. As long as you get your heart rate up, it counts.

Second, you can set your goal based on your individual capacity, with a minimum of 150 Hearts, corresponding to the WHO’s minimum recommendation for physical activity.

Third, community is at the heart of Tæl Hjerter. When we count Hearts together as a company, we create momentum, community and more energy – and that can ultimately be seen on the bottom line.

Thank you for the many great debates and conversations with so many inspiring people who, like us, are working to reduce physical inactivity and create better health and wellbeing. There is plenty of reason to be hopeful that, together, we can make a difference when it comes to the physical inactivity that we care so deeply about.

Last year, we hosted a debate ourselves, and this year we were invited by Danish Life Science Cluster and Erhvervsfyrtårn Life Science to share how Tæl Hjerter can contribute to stronger communities and better health. We had several really valuable conversations with companies, organisations and municipalities, and we look forward to continuing these conversations over the coming months.

We also had a great conversation with Claus Richter and Sebastian Erbo Hoffmann from Diabetesforeningen, and listened to a very important and relevant debate, “Exercise and (heart) health – What are we waiting for?”, hosted by Outdoorgym with, among others, Bente Klarlund Pedersen, Mayor of Gentofte Municipality Michael Fenger, Charlotte Glümer and Mads Lind from Hjerteforeningen.

The discussion focused on the experience and knowledge of how to bring more movement into everyday life through communities, and how making it easy and accessible increases the chances of success. Exactly what we are working for at Tæl Hjerter.

There were once again many great points in the debate. As Bente put it: “It is a myth that it takes several years to see the results of prevention – we see them within just a few months.”

We need to get started with prevention. The benefits are significant – for individuals, businesses and society.

Grateful, because Politiken – in their health section today (see link) – shines a much-needed spotlight on the growing problem of physical inactivity among Danes and the resulting health crisis.
And proud, because with Tæl Hjerter (“Count Hearts”), we’ve already come a long way in addressing that problem – something Politiken also highlights in their article 💚

The numbers speak for themselves:
– 58.6% of Danes are physically inactive.
– Inactivity is one of the biggest risk factors for premature death.
– And inactivity costs society billions in healthcare expenses – and companies millions in lost productivity, stress, and reduced work ability.

It’s a health crisis that affects individuals, businesses, and society at large – and one we can no longer ignore.

At IQNITER, our mission is to make more people active by making prevention simple, fun, and community-driven. We call it counting hearts – and it’s a step towards a new culture of movement in Denmark.

Our results in companies are unique: we engage far more employees than traditional wellness programs – including those who are usually the hardest to reach.

Hearts is the new health currency – and the workplace is the best arena for real change.

Read the full article on pages 6 and 8 here: https://e-avis.politiken.dk/shared/issues/23-10-2025/rBuTBi1V

We are proud to share that at IQNITER, with our Tæl Hjerter concept, we have been invited to join VILPA’s Community Board alongside the Danish Heart Foundation and professors from SDU, who are conducting research on the effects of physical activity—particularly for inactive individuals. This is a strong recognition of our work and a unique opportunity to ensure that our app is always built on the latest scientific knowledge.

Based on the most recent research on heart rate zones, we have decided to adjust the zones in the Tæl Hjerter app starting Okt. 6, 2025. At the same time, we have updated the design, making it easier for you to track your heart rate, how close you are to your max heart rate—and of course, your hearts.

Heart rate zones and health benefits
This update shifts the focus from training effects to the health benefits of your activity. The goal remains 150 hearts per week, which is WHO’s recommended minimum for a healthy lifestyle.

Here’s how the health benefits are measured:

• Low < 60%
  Light activity – good for wellbeing, but limited impact on disease risk. In this zone, you don’t earn any hearts.
• Moderate 60–75%
  This is where the big health benefits begin: reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. In this zone, you earn one heart per minute.
• High 76–85%
  Brings extra health benefits – VILPA studies show that short bursts of intense activity can significantly reduce the risk of disease and premature death. In this zone, you earn two hearts per minute.
• Very High > 85%
  Can deliver particularly strong health benefits – even with very short efforts in daily life, such as taking the stairs quickly. It doesn’t require long workouts but rather small, repeated spikes in heart rate. In this zone, you earn two hearts per minute.

Sources: WHO, the Danish Health Authority, and the VILPA study.

With the new zones, you’ll get a more accurate reward for the effort that has the greatest impact on your health.
And with our heart rate band, you can now track your training in real time directly in the app.

You can see:

• Whether you’re in the right heart rate zone
• Your percentage of max heart rate
• How many hearts you’re earning
• Your current heart rate

This makes Tæl Hjerter a unique tool where you can see the effects of your physical activity live—and adjust along the way to maximize your results.

As a new feature, you can now track your heart rate 24/7 directly in the app via third-party heart rate devices such as Garmin, Apple Watch, and Android devices. This means you no longer need to start and stop an activity on your smartwatch—simply enable all-day tracking, and your hearts will be calculated automatically based on continuous updates from your smartwatch, as long as it’s synchronized with the Tæl Hjerter app.

We are proud to have initiated the debate “Heart Health” together with Nordic Healthcare Group Denmark.

Mental health among Danes has declined.
In 2023, 25% of the adult population reported having poor mental health – a significant increase compared to previous years, particularly affecting younger age groups.

The proportion of individuals with severe obesity is increasing.
In 2023, 18% of adults were severely overweight. Severe obesity raises the risk of several serious diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and at least 13 different forms of cancer.

Many Danes lead sedentary lifestyles.
In 2023, 31% of adults were physically inactive. Physical inactivity contributes to numerous health issues such as cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disorders — and has a negative impact on the Danish economy. The care and treatment of inactive citizens cost society approximately five billion DKK per year.

In this panel debate, the public sector, private sector, and civil society come together to discuss and explore future solutions on how we can improve public health and get Denmark’s circulation system — literally and figuratively — running better.

We ask the question:

“How can the new health structure — with stronger health councils, greater incentives for collaboration, and an increased focus on prevention and health promotion — make a real difference?”

Debate moderator:
Ellen Trane Nørby, former Minister of Health

Panel participants:

Mads W. Ø. Larsen, General Manager, Novo Nordisk Denmark

Lars Peter Busch, CEO, IQNITER (Tæl Hjerter)

Morten Ørsted-Rasmussen, CEO, The Danish Heart Association

Katrina Feilberg Schouenborg, Director, Danish Chamber of Commerce – Health & Life Science

Lars Gaardhøj, Chairman, Capital Region of Denmark

Christian Budde, Alderman for Health and Care, Aarhus Municipality