The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine published an article on: "Examination of health and economic outcomes, a lifestyle-based weight management program". It was delivered to employees by M. Courtney Hughes, M.S.,PhC.,Teresa M Girolami, M.D., Allen D. Cheadle Ph.D., and other in the November 2007 Journal. The researches studied 516 people who elected to participate in their Fortune 500 companies "weight management program" for either 2 or 52 weeks. Employees paid part of the program's cost and their employer picked up 70 - 80% of the tab. Weight loss interventions included fitness counseling, diet counseling and a physician oversight. Participants saw losses in body weight, body mass index, waist size and blood pressure. They increased exercise time by over 178 minutes per week. Tests for depression showed that positive mood increased.
Employers who hope to reduce the epidemic of obesity and its resultant chronic health conditions may want to consider sponsoring a wellness program or weight loss challenge for their own employees. Check out: http://www.ahrg.gov/ and http://www.joem.org/ for more information or http://www.blogger.com/365daysofwellness
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Walkstation: The Perfect Answer to bring Healthy Habits to Sedentary Workers while they are Working!
I have been offering wellness programs for a long time, and finally I feel like I have found a product that can promote participation without taking time away from work! It is called the Walkstation. The Walkstation was created from the research of Dr. James A. Levine of the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. The Walkstation is the combination of a height adjustable, fully electronic integrated desk with a low speed commercial grade treadmill attached to it. The walk speed is maxed at 2 mph which lets employees walk while they work, burning calories with no sweating involved! A touch pad digital controller records and displays time, distance,speed and calories burned! With the push of a button, there is room to move from sitting, to standing, to walking throughout the day.
The data is there. Obesity is driving up health care costs and driving down worker productivity http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2007/. Now there is a solution that has no excuses not to be used! A solution of how to burn calories, potentially alleviate stress and improve the overall health of employees! Contact http://www.blogger.com/juliet@wellnesscorporatesolutions.com for a demonstration and/or more information. Give your employees a better day at work! Now you can help everyone to take a healthy step in the right direction.
- I believe this new machine is the answer to change the face of the corporate workplace and the health of its workforce.
- This is a win win product that should be part of any successful wellness strategy!
The data is there. Obesity is driving up health care costs and driving down worker productivity http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2007/. Now there is a solution that has no excuses not to be used! A solution of how to burn calories, potentially alleviate stress and improve the overall health of employees! Contact http://www.blogger.com/juliet@wellnesscorporatesolutions.com for a demonstration and/or more information. Give your employees a better day at work! Now you can help everyone to take a healthy step in the right direction.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Diabetic Employees Need More Education and Preventative Care in the Workplace
In 2005, there were 20.8 million Americans or (7% of the population) diagnosed with diabetes. An additional 41 million Americans have a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes—a condition known as pre-diabetes. People with pre-diabetes have impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). A staggering 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in just 2005! Diabetes at work (a CDC partner) http://diabetesatwork.org/ reports diabetes:
This information makes it imperative for employers to help employees manage their diabetes and take steps toward reducing risks for related complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and stroke. The CDC http://cdc.gov/diabetes suggests five key areas to focus on:
Glucose control
Studies in the United States and abroad have found that improved glycemic control benefits people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In general, every percentage point drop in A1C blood test results (e.g., from 8% to 7%) reduces the risk of micro vascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by 40%.
Blood pressure control
Blood pressure control reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease or stroke) among persons with diabetes by 33% to 50%, and the risk of micro vascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by approximately 33%.
In general, for every 10 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure, the risk for any complication related to diabetes is reduced by 12%.
Control of blood lipids
Improved control of cholesterol or blood lipids (for example, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) can reduce cardiovascular complications by 20% to 50%.
Preventive care practices for eyes, kidneys, and feet
Detecting and treating diabetic eye disease can reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated 50% to 60%.
Comprehensive foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45% to 85%.
Weight Management
Diet and exercise for individuals that achieves a 5- to 7% weight loss can reduce diabetes incidence by 58%.
It is time for all employers and businesses to be aware and educated about the dangers and preventative measures they can take to help their employees be more in control of their diabetes or pre diabetic condition. Once again preventative care begins with early education and helping employees achieve more healthy lifestyle changes!
- Total costs (direct and indirect): $132 billion
- Direct medical costs: $92 billion
- Indirect costs: $40 billion (disability, work loss, premature death)
- Average health care costs per year are more than 5 times the cost of a person without diabetes: $13,243 for a person with diabetes vs. $2,560 for a person without diabetes
This information makes it imperative for employers to help employees manage their diabetes and take steps toward reducing risks for related complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and stroke. The CDC http://cdc.gov/diabetes suggests five key areas to focus on:
Glucose control
Studies in the United States and abroad have found that improved glycemic control benefits people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In general, every percentage point drop in A1C blood test results (e.g., from 8% to 7%) reduces the risk of micro vascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by 40%.
Blood pressure control
Blood pressure control reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease or stroke) among persons with diabetes by 33% to 50%, and the risk of micro vascular complications (eye, kidney, and nerve diseases) by approximately 33%.
In general, for every 10 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure, the risk for any complication related to diabetes is reduced by 12%.
Control of blood lipids
Improved control of cholesterol or blood lipids (for example, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) can reduce cardiovascular complications by 20% to 50%.
Preventive care practices for eyes, kidneys, and feet
Detecting and treating diabetic eye disease can reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated 50% to 60%.
Comprehensive foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45% to 85%.
Weight Management
Diet and exercise for individuals that achieves a 5- to 7% weight loss can reduce diabetes incidence by 58%.
It is time for all employers and businesses to be aware and educated about the dangers and preventative measures they can take to help their employees be more in control of their diabetes or pre diabetic condition. Once again preventative care begins with early education and helping employees achieve more healthy lifestyle changes!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Physical Activity Increasing Among Adults!
A recent study funded by the Center for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5646.pdf regarding the prevalence of regular physical activity among adults in the United States found that physical activity increased 8.6% among women overall (from 43 to 46.7%) and 3.5% among men overall (from 48 to 49.7%). Finally some encouraging news about people starting to move! In the workplace, it is important to encourage your employees to exercise since the majority of Americans work and spend most of their waking hours there. The Healthy People goals of 2010 http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/html/uih/uih_2.htm#goals is a great web site to investigate if you are interested in learning about ways to increase the quality of life for your employees and their families. Healthy People 2010 seeks to increase life expectancy and quality of life over the next 10 years by helping individuals gain the knowledge, motivation, and opportunities they need to make informed decisions about their health.
Because the individual and work site health are virtually inseparable, both the individual and the corporate community need to do their parts to increase life expectancy and improve quality of life. It is a known fact that activity is the number one action a person can take to improve their health. Here are some tips to keep employees moving:
Because the individual and work site health are virtually inseparable, both the individual and the corporate community need to do their parts to increase life expectancy and improve quality of life. It is a known fact that activity is the number one action a person can take to improve their health. Here are some tips to keep employees moving:
- Encourage a walking group and provide incentives for people who join
- Bring fitness instructors into the workplace and allow time for employees to participate
- Offer dance classes (the latest craze in exercise)
- Send e mail blasts reminding employees to stretch or perform an exercise
- Organize after work basketball, volleyball, or baseball leagues
- Offer a seminar on "the motivation to get moving"
- Reward employees for participating
There is no time to waste. Start your plan of action now. Set goals for your own employee fitness program today!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Remind Your Employees About Self Care
Self care is something we all need to be reminded to do every day. In order to get started, have your employees answer some basic questions for themselves about living a healthy life.
1. Do I get annual physical checkups?
2. Do I smoke or use spit tobacco?
3. How is my weight?
4. How is my nutrition?
5. Am I managing any chronic conditions I may have?
6. Do I get the proper screenings I need for preventive care?
7. How is my mood? Have I felt persistently down or depressed?
8. How often am I exercising?
9. Do I wear a seat belt every time I ride in a motor vehicle?
These are personal questions an employee can ask themselves and take note of. It is important for employees to know what threatens their own personal health. Not to scare them, but rather to help create an awareness about health and safety. Make it easy for employees to reach out for more information on self care. Provide educational materials that are easily accessible and answer every health problems.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/
and The National Center for Health Statistics Information a http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm have insightful information on the biggest risks to health and well being.
1. Do I get annual physical checkups?
2. Do I smoke or use spit tobacco?
3. How is my weight?
4. How is my nutrition?
5. Am I managing any chronic conditions I may have?
6. Do I get the proper screenings I need for preventive care?
7. How is my mood? Have I felt persistently down or depressed?
8. How often am I exercising?
9. Do I wear a seat belt every time I ride in a motor vehicle?
These are personal questions an employee can ask themselves and take note of. It is important for employees to know what threatens their own personal health. Not to scare them, but rather to help create an awareness about health and safety. Make it easy for employees to reach out for more information on self care. Provide educational materials that are easily accessible and answer every health problems.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/
and The National Center for Health Statistics Information a http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm have insightful information on the biggest risks to health and well being.
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