It's hot outside and you may not feel like walking – but soon you are going to be bombarded with messages to take the stairs.

Because entering elevators in Government offices, you'll be confronted with a clear message: get out and do the walk up.

It's all a part of Caribbean Wellness Week, and while Government doesn't plan to shut down elevators, it does want Bermudians to live a healthy lifestyle.

And a healthy lifestyle includes lots of physical activity and climbing stairs is particularly good for working the gluteus muscles – an area many of us need to exercise.

Health experts estimate that climbing two flights of stairs a day can lead to four pounds of weight loss over a year.

It's the first time Bermuda will join the Caribbean in observing Caribbean Wellness Week, which began yesterday and will end on September 12 – Caribbean Wellness Day.

Government Public Health Consultant Betsy Baillie said although Bermuda celebrated World Health Day and National Wellness Week in April, Caribbean Wellness Day presented another good opportunity to highlight healthy living.

With the high incidence of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, people need to make a real effort to eat healthier and exercise more. The last Government survey on the health of adults and children was conducted in 2006 and showed that almost half the people aged over 65 (45.5 percent) had high blood pressure, as did just over a third (37.2 percent) of those aged between 55 and 64.

Ms Bailie said the survey also showed more than half of the deaths in Bermuda were due to chronic diseases that were not infectious.

"Chronic diseases do not kill people quickly; they are long-lasting leading to years of pain and suffering, disability and often financial hardship for families and rising health care costs," she said.

"Evidence shows that up to 80 percent of chronic non-communicable diseases can be prevented by addressing risk factors like unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use."

Bermuda has adopted the theme 'Love That Body', for its campaign and is urging everyone to get health screenings – for blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol and readings of their body mass index.

The Bermuda Heart Foundation will offer free blood sugar and blood pressure screenings at the Hamilton Post Office on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Employers and churches have also been requested to get involved and have been asked to urge their staff and congregations to get on the right path. The Health Department has asked businesses to also adopt the 'take the stairs not the elevator' campaign and has also asked churches to organise walks and healthy lunches after meetings.

But with the steady increase in the incidence of chronic diseases Body & Soul asked Ms Baillie what real impact the department hoped to gain from observing the week. "The theme 'Love That Body' gives us the opportunity to emphasise individual personal responsibility," she said. "Individuals have to look after themselves better, look at little things that they can easily do to live a healthier life.

"Taking the stairs instead of the elevator will not take a lot of extra effort but can have long-term beneficial effects. There are a number of different health behaviours that individuals can commit to and they are encouraged to sign a pledge of commitment."

Ms Baillie added: "Finding out what their 'numbers' are for the chronic non-communicable disease indicators can help individuals see what their risk is and motivate them to take action to reduce identified risks.

"Not only is having a regular medical check-up important, individuals also need to ensure that they are screened appropriately for non-communicable diseases, so we've designed a leaflet which outlines screening tests for them."

The 'Love That Body' healthy lifestyle brochure has been mailed to every household and is available from the Victoria Street Clinic and the Department of Health.