In a Breton high school, to combat a sedentary lifestyle, people cycle in class

"It's really great, it lets you stretch your legs!" At the Bruz high school, near Rennes, to combat a sedentary lifestyle and inactivity, students have access to "bike-desks" and can therefore pedal to class.

At the origin of the project, "a reflection on the layout of our spaces" was carried out so that the students "are a little more mobile when they are in the establishment and that they think a little more about moving, doing physical activity", explains Christophe Briand, principal of the Anita Conti high school which welcomes 900 students.

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Thanks to funding from the Parents' Federation and assistance from the Regional Health Agency (ARS), the establishment is equipped with around twenty "desk bikes", worth 500 euros for those used with a removable desk and 700 euros for those equipped with an adjustable table.

So, whether in the classroom or in the documentation center, we witness this curious spectacle of young people pedaling.

"When I learned we were going to receive them, I was surprised," admits Julien Capitaine, in second year. "But it's a nice surprise and it's really good because it can be boring to be on a chair for eight hours. This one is like a classic bike, there are speeds you can adjust and it's quiet, you don't disturb the class."

In the library room, where books and magazines are bathed in beautiful light, Zoé reviews autotrophic nutrition by activating her legs. But can you work out effectively while pedaling?

"Honestly, yes! It's a bit of an automatic process, and it even allows me to be more focused; you don't have to play with your pencils or notebooks," says Zoé, genuinely excited. During a class, she explains that a student can cycle for about thirty minutes before handing over their work bike to another classmate, under the watchful eye of teachers who are aware of the cause.

– The administrative staff too –

Because according to cardiologist and sports doctor François Carré, a sedentary lifestyle constitutes "a major public health problem" with "a 14-15 year old adolescent who can be seated 75%" of the time without sleeping, or 12 hours. "It's very bad for health because it promotes the development of around 35 diseases," argues the professor, for whom "the chair kills."

"People, especially parents, don't believe us when we say it's dangerous to sit. Just as they didn't believe us when we first said it was dangerous to smoke," insists Professor Carré.

In a press release on the experiment conducted in Bruz, the rectorate emphasizes that sedentary time is "the real scourge of the 21st century." Physical activity has "a significant impact on academic and cognitive performance," while "changing postures" at different times of the day allows one to work "more efficiently."

Project leader Sylvain Portier, a 53-year-old PE teacher, has observed over the years "a decline in performance levels, particularly cardio-respiratory capacity" among young people, pointing to the use of cell phones. This teacher wants to "break up sedentary lifestyles," without forgetting administrative staff.

Also, upstairs, Emmanuelle, 52, a school assistant, pedals while doing her administrative work. "You can stay static for a very long time without realizing it... Every day, I try to do at least half an hour of real pedaling," confides Emmanuelle, who had two backaches in 2021 and is feeling better now.

In addition to the bike desks, a whole culture of activity is spreading throughout the school. For example, teachers have implemented "active breaks," as Zoé explains.

"On Mondays, we have math, and between the two hours, we go for a 5- or 10-minute walk with the teacher to clear our heads. It's better than continuing with class or just going out into the hallway to stay on our phones."