The two most recent Surgeons General of the United States, David Satcher MD, PhD and Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, respectively 16th and 17th US Surgeons General, jointly urged policymakers to take direct action on obesity and its associated chronic diseases by including obesity as a key element in healthcare reform. ‘Health reform will succeed only if we address obesity and the chronic diseases it causes,’ said Robert Kushner, MD, President of The Obesity Society. ‘Obesity is the number 1, most serious health issue facing the country. It is also the largest single driver of our increasing healthcare costs and we need to address it now.’ More than one third of US adults — more than 72 million people — and 16 percent of US children are now estimated to be overweight or obese.

The Journal article follows the efforts of Syngenta, a Swiss company with a strong presence in the U.S. After discovering that spouses' medical claims were higher than employees' (by almost 30%!), they started encouraging spouses to participate in biometric screenings and health risk assessments.

Serious health conditions have been uncovered through the screenings, and some employees have lost weight and made lifestyle changes as a result of the information they received. According to Syngenta, their wellness program has helped keep the cost of health care inflation below the national average.

Given that millions of people depend on their spouses for health coverage, it makes sense to include spouses and partners in wellness programs. After all, as we've argued many times, people are more likely to make lasting changes if they have support–both at home and at work.

Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Center

15 Industrial Drive

Middletown NY 10941

845-344-4653

http://www.goldsmiddletown.com/wellness/

‘Our findings suggest that sedentary lifestyle, rather than differences in cardiovascular risk factors or age, may explain (the) two-fold higher mortality rates in the least-fit versus slightly more fit healthy individuals,’ lead researcher Dr. Sandra Mandic, of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, noted in an email to Reuters Health. ‘These results emphasize the importance of improving and maintaining high fitness levels by engaging in regular physical activity,’ Mandic said, ‘particularly in poorly fit individuals.’ ‘Since it is recent physical activity that offers protection,’ Mandic said, ‘it is important to maintain regular physical activity throughout life.’ And since fitness is linked to longevity regardless of weight and health conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, exercise is important for all, according to Mandic. That, she said, includes people who are thin and in generally good health.

Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Center

15 Industrial Drive

Middletown NY 10941

845-344-4653

Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Site

The current Medical Care climate represents an ideal opportunity for employers to reevaluate their Corporate Wellness offerings and consider the more systemic approach of a robust Corporate Wellness . Despite the large number of employers that claim to offer disease management or Corporate Wellness activities, as of 2005 only 23% of staff members were eligible for Corporate Wellness and only 13% were provided access to a fitness center through work. This is despite evidence that nearly two-thirds of staff members would be open to enrolling in programs that encourage healthier lifestyles.

Corporate Wellness Programs are a chance for employers to differentiate themselves from competitors by increasing productiveness, cutting costs and establishing a healthier work environment that is valued by current and prospective staff members. Nearly 1/3 of staff members polled in a 2004 study by MetLife given benefits as an important reason why they decided to work for their employer and 38% said it is among the top reasons they remain at their work.

Gary Grates, global director of Edelman’s Change and Employee Program Engagement Group, notes, “The return on investment in a Corporate Wellness extends well beyond monetary Medical Care savings. These programs can play a essential role in creating a more engaged workplace environment where staff members are aligned with employer goals/objectives.

Corporate Wellness can represent more than a human resources(HR) plan, they can be a bold symbol of what you as a employer stand for.” To date, employers have viewed Corporate Wellness as merely another benefit to be managed by the human resources(HR) department. Nevertheless, executives, and their employers, would be better served by adopting a more strategic and integrated approach to Corporate Wellness . Organizations that are able to develop Corporate Wellness based on sound assessment, work within existing regulations, and engage staff members around initiatives, will reap valuable rewards in terms of cost savings and long-term strength.

Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Center

15 Industrial Drive

Middletown NY 10941

845-344-4653

Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Site

1. Reduced health care costs.
2. The average workweek is getting longer (not shorter!)
3. Technology brings different kinds of illness and injury.
4. Employee stress levels are on the rise.

The Wellness Councils of America goes on to state key employee improvements that contribute to a positive work environment and enhance productivity.

• Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Center
• 15 Industrial Drive
• Middletown NY 10941
• 845-344-4653
• http://www.goldsmiddletown.com/wellness/

Despite tight economic times, paying employees to participate in worksite health and wellness programs is almost uniformly believed among employers of all sizes, with and without programs in place, to boost program success and return value. Almost two out of three U.S. companies offer programs to keep employees healthy, and 66 percent of those offering programs also use incentives, with a healthy number showing an ROI of greater than $1 for each dollar spent.

• Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Center
• 15 Industrial Drive
• Middletown NY 10941
• 845-344-4653
• http://www.goldsmiddletown.com/wellness/

Lappin says this generation is unique compared to the extremely physical lives of the hunters and farmers of the past. ‘We by choice can lead a sedentary life,’ he said of today's ranks of office workers. And that is often cited as a major cause of a deadly and expensive epidemic of obesity and related health problems like heart disease and diabetes in the U.S. Obese workers cost employers significantly more each year in health care than their slimmer counterparts. And workers compensation claims are more than double for obese employees, he said. Looking at a person's overall health, more than 51 percent of it is simply about ‘what we do or what we don't do,’ Wood pointed out. About $1,000 a year is how much more a tobacco-using employee costs a business in health care over workers that do not use tobacco, he said. Obesity and using tobacco are equally bad, said Dr. James Seward, a retired Mayo Clinic physician and founder of EchoMetrics. ‘Studies have shown that the costs and impacts of smoking are equal to those of obesity,’ he said.

So having a healthier workforce can save a company money on health care, but does promoting wellness through exercise programs, healthy snacks and other corporate actions pay off? ‘Every $1 of prevention will save you $3,’ said Seward, citing a recent study. That adds up to an estimated $1,500 to $1,800 savings per employee each year. Another study announced Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that obesity costs about $147 billion in health care spending each year. That's significantly more than the $93 billion a year spent on treating all forms of cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Center

15 Industrial Drive

Middletown NY 10941

845-344-4653

Golds Gym Wellness Center

Other promotional methods to consider are email and announcements at employee gatherings. Ask Corporate Wellness Committee members to recruit participants. Once the program is kicked off you may want to provide an incentive for any employee who recruits another employee to any of the program offerings.

Nutrition Category

• Low-fat campaign/food groups
• Team salad bars
• Vending machine changes
• Diet analysis by a nutritionist
• Produce on parade
• Eating disorder support group
• Restaurant education

Physical Activity/Exercise Category

• “Elevoiders” – stair climbing
• Poker walk
• Mall walking program
• Facilities – showers, bike lockers, exercise space, etc.
• Team treks
• Walk-a-block trails
• Recreational tournaments
• How-to-choose equipment talks
• Running maps
• Biking maps
• Deskercises (mini stretches for desk jockeys)
• Fit-over-forty club
• Tennis shoe Tuesday
• Walk 100 miles in 100 days
• Walking “buddies”
• NW Trek!

Miscellaneous Category

• House calls
• Meet your benefits providers
• Dental health
• Fire safety
• Ergonomic assessments
• Self-help learning
• CPR/first aid course
• Hearing test
• Hand washing campaign
• Cancer screenings
• Back class
• Passports to health
• Vision screenings

Stress Management Category

• Comedy hour
• Stress Pest
• Humor newsletter
• Money management classes
• Time management classes
• Relaxation class
• Better sleep campaign
• Relaxation room

Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Center

15 Industrial Drive

Middletown NY 10941

845-344-4653

http://www.goldsmiddletown.com/wellness/

• Effective programs identify ways that employer policies and employer traditions encourage wellness.
• Effective programs work at the group and employer level to build support for healthy lifestyle choices.

Effective programs set clear target goals/objectives for the health improvement of the worksite.

Golds Gym Corporate Wellness Center

15 Industrial Drive

Middletown NY 10941

845-344-4653

http://www.goldsmiddletown.com/wellness/