365 Days of Wellness

North Carolina State Employees Pushed Penalized for Smoking or Being Obese

2009-10-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

New information from the North Carolina State Employee Health Plan shows North Carolina to be the second state in the US to start penalizing state employees if they are obese by placing them in a more expensive insurance plan. Smokers will also feel the increase as they are also slated to pay more for health insurance starting next year.

"Tobacco use, poor nutrition, and inactivity are the leading causes of preventable deaths in our State," said Anne Rodgers, Director of integrated health management with the State's Employee Health Plan. "We need a healthy workforce in this State. We're trying to encourage individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles".

Close to 600,000 state employees, teachers and retirees received a packet describing the State Health Plan's new Wellness Initiative. The initiatives affect some 560,000 members — everyone except for those on Medicare.

The good news is that for both programs, anyone trying to quit or to lose weight is enough to qualify them for the cheaper insurance plan.

The legislature instituted the initiatives to help shore up the troubled plan which the legislature had to bail out to the tune of $250 million dollars last year. The idea is that smokers and obese people are a greater health risk and therefore more expensive for an insurance plan to cover.

While officials have not yet estimated any potential savings from the obesity requirement, "the higher costs for smokers could save $13 million in the 2010-2011 budget year", Rogers said, emphasizing that the plan's priority is to improve health and save money in the process.

Money is the best motivator when it comes to behavior change! Good luck North Carolina!

Louisiana Wellness Programs are Slow to Take Off

2009-08-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

"Mardi Gras", an ancient custom that originated in southern Europe, is celebrated annually in New Orleans, Louisiana. It celebrates food and fun just before the 40 days of Lent which explains why the literal meaning of Mardi Gras translates to “Fat Tuesday”. While food and fun sounds great, Louisiana has a ways to go in terms of overall state health. With the 8th highest obesity rate in the nation, Louisiana suffers from many of the same issues that are present throughout the south. Heavy southern food combined with a serious lack of physical activity adds up to a large number of extremely unhealthy people.

If the numbers suggest anything, they indicate that authority figures in the South (such as governors, mayors, congressmen, etc.) would be wise to promote healthy living to ensure the future wellbeing of southern residents. Lighten Up Louisiana (LUL) is a creative state-wide initiative aimed at helping Louisiana’s residents get active and lose weight. LUL is an exercise-based nutritional challenge that encourages Louisianans to develop healthy activity and eating habits. Louisianans can form teams and engage in friendly competition or sign up as individuals. Either way, the program encourages residents of Louisiana to have fun while participating in regular physical activity.

In terms of employee health, there seems to be several budding wellness programs. A handful of Louisiana officials have begun to test the idea of low-budget wellness programs as a starting point for more comprehensive employee wellness programs in the future. Research suggests that even with low-budget programs, some level of increased wellness behaviors occur simply because wellness issues are highlighted and promoted in the workplace.

Although Mardi Gras provides a fun, festive release for thousands of fun-loving Americans, it’s important to recognize that “fun” doesn’t need to center around alcohol and fatty foods. For example, biking, hiking, and canoeing with friends are all fun ways to stay active and maintain general wellbeing. Louisiana is definitely headed in the right direction but could definitely benefit from a more hands-on approach to health by its legislators and state leaders.

Kentucky Fried Health & Wellness

2009-08-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Every day, more than 12 million customers are served at Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants around the world. Based in Louisville Kentucky, KFC is guilty of encouraging the consumption of too much grease. The state of Kentucky ranks, depending on the source, anywhere from the 4th unhealthiest state to the 7th unhealthiest state in America. These numbers take into account a variety of factors including rates of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and of course, obesity. Right now, the Trust for America’s Health lists Kentucky as the 7th most obese state – the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices and a general lack of wellness education. Although Mississippi wins the dubious award of the least active state, Kentucky is the clear runner up with over 30% of the population shunning even moderate physical activity.

Kentucky boasts an expansive park system, which includes one national park, two National Recreation areas, two National Historic Parks, two national forests, 45 state parks, 37,696 acres of state forest, and 82 Wildlife Management Areas. With all the green space available to Kentuckians, they should embrace outdoor activities. Unfortunately, the road to health is not quite so smooth.

In 2008 Kentucky launched Be Well Kentucky, an ambitious initiative aimed to challenge the statistics and inspire a shift in health attitudes and practices among Kentuckians. Be Well Kentucky utilizes a variety of resources – statewide broadcast, video and multimedia production, school-based services, community outreach, and the Internet – to maximize participation in the program and increase health awareness.

Above and beyond good health, wellness plans in some Kentucky workplaces also offer bonuses for employees and greater ROIs for employers. Two successful approaches include the Lifestyle Enhancement Activity Program (LEAP), which rewards workers who meet individual diet and fitness goals. And a program launched in Russellville called Logan Alive! where participants earn cash for their efforts and save money when they make healthier choices in the company cafeteria. Finally, the mayor's Healthy Hometown Movement in Louisville demonstrates the power of community involvement on every individual's health.

Overall Kentucky is inconsistent. There are pockets of wellness sprinkled throughout the state, but in order for Kentucky to change its image and boost its rankings in the current health statistics, more Kentuckians need to start taking their health seriously. Come on Kentucky, you can do it!

Wellness in Kansas: Maybe a Tornado could Shake some Things up!

2009-08-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

Dorothy clicked her ruby slippers together and pictured her hometown of Kansas when she murmured “there’s no place like home” in the final scene of The Wizard of Oz. Today, residents of Kansas still feel fiercely fond of their "tornado-magnet" state. In order to maintain the well-being of Kansans, the primary goal of the Kansas Health Policy Authority (or KHPA) is “coordinating health and health care for a thriving Kansas”. Kansas’s leaders aim to improve individuals’ overall quality of life by compiling and distributing state health care data. Although it is important to keep people educated to ensure improved decision making on issues of health in the future, merely providing Kansans with information is not enough. The current Kansas wellness programs are pitifully weak or generally inaccessible. The Kansas Health Policy Authority’s guiding principles state that:

1. Every Kansan should have access to care

2. Every Kansan should be assured of quality and efficiency in health care

3. Kansans deserve affordable and sustainable health

4. Kansans should pursue healthy lifestyles with a focus on wellness

5. The KHPA will administer the resources with the highest level of integrity, responsibility and transparency.

6. Kansans should be educated about health to create an improved health system for all.

While this vision is admirable, Kansas lacks sufficient programs to achieve its health goals. According to a 2008 study from Health Resources and Services Administration, Kansas ranks 50th (worst in the nation) in federal funding for public health. So, while the governor and other Kansan leaders might have a vision of a healthy Kansas, there are few effective programs in place to make it happen. HRSA’s data show that the U.S. spends, on average, $21.43 per resident on
public health. In Kansas, however, a mere $9.96 is spent per state resident. Kansas devotes less than half the national average of its public funds to the health priorities of its citizens.

Today, Kansas offers HealthQuest, a program jointly administered by the Kansas Health Policy Authority and the Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission. HealthQuest's mission is to partner with employees to improve health and well-being and to better manage health costs. Perhaps the most encouraging service offered by HealthQuest is its weight management initiative. The HealthQuest weight management program offers a personal health and wellness coach to help individuals achieve their weight loss goals. When a Kansas resident enrolls in this program, he or she also receives a weight management workbook to be used in coordination with the personal health coaching. This program could be extremely beneficial to residents of the state of Kansas, but it is relatively under-marketed. With the proper allocation of funding and increased government support, HealthQuest could expand its offerings and transform the blustery state of Kansas into a Midwestern hotspot for health.

Weight of the Nation: Obesity Prevention and Control

2009-07-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

“Weight of the Nation”, the Centers for Disease Control’s inaugural conference on obesity prevention and control, concluded its three-day line-up of speakers and activities yesterday. The conference, which took place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC featured prominent health leaders and international public policy makers discussing current and future wellness initiatives on the path to global health.

The conference goals were to:
1. Identify strategies to facilitate obesity prevention on personal, local, and international levels.
2. Discuss economic analysis of obesity prevention and control efforts (for example, costs and benefits within the health care system).
3. Discuss the use of legislation, government regulation, and policies as a way to combat obesity.
4. Explain and evaluate accumulating evidence to promote certain policies and environmental strategies in obesity prevention.

Some of the ideas discussed were large-scale projects such as re-designing the infrastructure of a city to include wider sidewalks, more green space, or pedestrian-friendly routes connecting counties. Other changes suggested, however, are equally significant, but more manageable in a short period of time.

Indiana state health commissioner, Judy Monroe, suggested that school bus drivers could drop children off several minutes from school. Each day, an adult could meet the children and walk them safely to school from a few blocks away. This small change could increase the daily activity level of some youngsters by ten minutes or more. Another small shift takes place in the cafeteria. If candy and junk food prices are increased, kids are more likely to reach for apples or carrot sticks during lunchtime. Some schools have already set up an affordable healthy lunch program that provides fresh fruit and vegetables as well as pizza made with whole wheat crust and organic milk instead of soda.

Although public health officials face many challenges in their attempts to affect change, there are numerous creative ideas that encourage positive behavior modification and realistic lifestyle changes for Americans.

The CDC's inaugural conference didn't have all the answers for obesity prevention and global health management, but it did provide an interactive forum for brainstorming ideas and sharing information. That's a great start!

Iowa: 90% Corn, 27% Obesity

2009-07-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Eskimo Pie - a chocolate covered ice cream bar - was invented in Iowa by Onawa native Chris Nelson. In the years following the birth of this decadent treat, the Iowa obesity rate increased to 27%. Recently, the Iowa Department of Public Health launched the Healthy Iowans 2010 program to promote health and wellness among the state’s residents in a realistic way. In order to accomplish this, the IDPH lists several wellness strategies, which include:

• The promotion of health for all ages
• The promotion of physical activity and nutrition
• The prevention and management of chronic disease

The division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention has established programs to encourage healthy living among Iowans by educating residents on issues of wellness. One such program, Iowans Fit for Life, brings state and local partners together to build a network of health-conscious citizens dedicated to nutrition and exercise. This initiative aims to improve the health of Iowans by reducing the risks and preventing disease related to inactivity and unhealthy eating behaviors. Currently, there are more than 500 partners in the network.

One way the IDHP measures state-wide health success is by tracking the consumption of fruits and vegetables among Iowans. Currently, health professionals urge Americans to eat 9-10 servings of produce every day, while dietary guidelines put the minimum consumption at 5 servings per day. Sadly, even the reminder for kids to "strive for five" fails to convey the importance of vegetables in a child's diet. Although Iowans eat fewer fruits and veggies than the national average, there appears to be a direct correlation between consumption of fruits and vegetables and physical activity. In this case, eating vegetables does not cause someone to exercise, and physical activity does not cause a person to eat vegetables, but rather, adults who make healthy decisions in one area of their lives, tend to make healthy decisions in other areas as well. As a result, tracking vegetable consumption can be a good indicator of increased physical activity as well as decreased health risks in the future.

The Iowa Department of Public Health has instituted at least one comprehensive program to improve the overall health and wellbeing of Iowans, but like many states, Iowa still has a long way to go!

Hoosiers Make Health a Priority!

2009-07-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Indiana might be known for car racing and Division I basketball, but governor Mitch Daniels is finally making Indiana about health. In 2007, Indiana implemented the Certified Wellness Tax Credit Program, which sought to recognize small employers in their efforts to improve Indiana’s health status by providing wellness programs for their employees. This program entitles the employer to a credit of 50% of the costs incurred for providing a comprehensive wellness program. In the first year, 54 employers were eligible for the credit and in 2008 the number increased to include 88 small companies. As of now, Indiana is the only state to successfully pass a tax credit for work site wellness programs, although the current health reform bill seeks to establish similar laws on a national level.

In the Indiana school system, a record 92 schools recently received the 2008-2009 Healthy Hoosier School Award. This award honors the Indiana schools that promote good nutrition and regular physical activity among students. The Healthy Hoosier School award has the ability to truly evoke change in individuals because it targets young children and encourages healthy habits from early on.

Another statewide health program is INShape Indiana. INShape Indiana provides a framework for personal or company-wide fitness initiatives so that Hoosiers and their employers can benefit from statewide-improved health. Accumulating research shows that healthy people perform better and save money for themselves, their employers, and the state. While none of this information is surprising, Indiana seems to be doing far more than most other states to encourage healthy living and increase general well being among its residents. As many of the programs are still fairly recent (most have existed for fewer than five years), there is not enough long-term data within the state of Indiana to confirm previous research that spending money on preventative health measures saves more money than treating health problems down the line. In the past two years however, research shows that Indiana has shifted from the 9th highest obesity rate in the US to the 16th. This shows a positive trend! Unfortunately, it is possible that instead of Hoosiers significantly improving their health, other states have merely been falling behind, thereby making Indiana look better by comparison.

For Hoosiers who want to take advantage of INShape Indiana, fitness fanatics in Indianapolis can walk, bike and run along the 15-mile Monon trail, credited with being one of the busiest trails in the nation. This "urban greenway" links commercial districts, schools, parks, the state fairgrounds and a dozen residential neighborhoods making it a convenient path for leisure or a morning commute.

Although midwestern states have continually demonstrated high levels of obesity and poor funding to help combat health issues, it seems as if Indiana governor Mitch Daniels is finally making Hoosier health a priority!

Illinois ranks 10th for Obese Children but Chicagoans Boast Numerous Opportunities for Fitness

2009-07-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

The state of Illinois has been a hot topic in the media this year following the election of President Barack Obama, but endured increasingly negative publicity in the wake of the impeachment of Governor Blagojevich. Recently, Illinois faced more unfortunate press coverage, this time related to health and wellness.

According to a report by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Illinois has the 10th highest percent nationally for obese children and one in five Illinois children (20.7 %) is obese. Another 14.2% are overweight. Although Illinois adults fared better than the children in the national ranking, the high number of unhealthy kids suggests that the state is not doing enough to target youngsters in wellness education. The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago’s Children suggests five major ways to reform the current legislature to enhance wellness among young Chicagoans to lead to a healthier future:

1. Create an Illinois Food Policy Council to increase the production, distribution, access to and consumptions of healthy food.
2. Reform the physical education waiver process to allow for greater individual involvement among parents, organizations, and lawmakers to increase PE requirements in school.
3. Give $3 million to the Illinois Obesity Study and Prevention Fund to allow for state-wide infrastructure of obesity prevention.
4. Include Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards in the mandate of the Illinois Early Learning Council to instill positive habits from a young age.
5. Establish a statewide Safe Routes to Schools and Parks program to enhance pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure.

While Illinois adults rank 27th nationally for obesity, the growing number of overweight children spells out trouble for the future health of the state. Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are three diseases that often go hand in hand with unhealthy living. As a result, Illinois can expect a severe increase in health care costs as the children of the state grow up.

Although Illinois has a somewhat bleak health forecast, the city of Chicago offers some hope. Praised as “one of the coolest running paths in the nation” Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive offers up to 20 miles of paved, pedestrian-friendly asphalt. With endless opportunities to bike, Rollerblade, scooter, walk, and run, Lake Shore Drive offers Chicagoans an enticing environment for healthy living.

Idaho Ranked 8th in Overall Health and Wellness

2009-06-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

Most Americans associate Idaho with potatoes, but what many people don’t know is Idaho actually ranks 8th in overall health and wellness according to the United Health Foundation. Idaho boasts a low rate of infectious disease, a low rate of preventable hospitalizations, low levels of air pollution and a low percentage of children in poverty. Unfortunately, many Idahoans have limited access to primary care and low immunization coverage.

In general, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare presents an extremely thorough website promoting healthy lifestyles. The government-sponsored programs include services targeted towards

Community health
Family health
Diseases and Conditions
Health Assistance
Prevention

One example of a federally funded program is the Idaho Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program (HDSP) which helps Idahoans take steps to avoid heart disease and stroke by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This program touts regular exercise and eating healthfully as the secret behind stroke prevention and longevity.

Each year, more than 1,500 Idahoans die from smoking-related diseases. That’s an average of four people a day. Idaho’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (also known as Project Filter) provides funding to health districts and organizations around the state to create programs that prevent tobacco use. Project Filter particularly targets those Idahoans with higher rates of smoking such as 18-24 year-olds, Native Americans, Latinos, homosexuals, and industry and labor workers.

The Idaho Rural Health Association (IRHA) provides state-wide leadership and education on issues related to rural health in Idaho. The mission of the Idaho State Office of Rural Health and Primary Care is to promote access to quality health care for people in Idaho. IRHA meetings focus on personal heath concerns such as substance abuse and smoking cessation as well as the broader topic of health care reform.

Overall, Idaho seems to be doing a commendable job of making wellness programs available to its occupants. Although Idahoans suffer from many of the same health issues prevalent throughout the U.S. (heart disease, stroke, and cancer) they benefit from dozens of state-funded programs related to disease prevention and wellness.

Hawaii: Stop Smoking and Start Living Healthy!

2009-06-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hawaii is perhaps best known for its sandy beaches and ocean breezes, but not only tourists enjoy the Big Island. Surfing is always popular among the locals and general outdoor activity is widespread as Hawaiians take advantage of the friendly weather. Although Minnesota was recently rated the healthiest state, Hawaii has also earned a high overall wellness grade as well.

A 2008 report ranked Hawaii as the second slimmest state after Colorado, but smoking still poses a significant health threat. The Hawaii state Department of Health's website offers tips to increase activity, eat healthfully, and stop smoking. In an effort to influence a greater number of Hawaiians, The Department of Health started the Healthy Hawaii Initiative, funded through the Tobacco Settlement Funds.

In 1975, Hawaii's Prepaid Health Care Act went into effect, making Hawaii the first state to mandate employer-provided medical coverage for employees. This law, as well as government initiatives such as the Hawaii Business Health Council Program helped to encourage wellness among workers and maximize employee health.

Unfortunately, state health initiatives such as the Hawaii Business Health Council often hurt small businesses. Although Hawaiians are generally healthier than the average American, small business owners still feel a financial strain from the mandatory medical coverage they must provide for their employees. Hawaii is the only state in the nation allowed to force companies to pay for insurance for their full-time employees. Health insurance is essential in the event of a medical emergency, however, individuals as well as larger companies might profit from more preventative health measures.

Start Living Healthy is the Hawaii State Department of Health's statewide health promotion campaign. It is an integrative and educational campaign with partnerships in both the private and public sectors. Furthermore, it provides people with information to promote well-being and reduce existing health disparities among ethnic groups in Hawaii.

Health Matters to Georgia Human Resources Department

2009-06-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

Initially launched in 2002, Health Matters is a work site wellness program that encourages employees to make positive health changes by offering regular activities related to healthy eating and physical activity. The program was originally offered to the Division of Public Health workers but now is available to all State employees. Examples of the program include:

Catchy promotional materials placed throughout the building encouraging employees to take the stairs
Promotional materials for the fresh produce market in the lobby of the building
A lactation room exists to support breastfeeding after mothers return to work

The goal of Georgia's Health Matters is to encourage management to formally adopt wellness policies that support healthy eating, physical activity, breastfeeding and smoking cessation; implement further environmental changes in the Public Health building; and ultimately expand to other work sites throughout Georgia.

Great start Georgia, but you have a long way to go! Current stats show 34.6 percent of Georgia adults over 18 are overweight, 27.1% of adults over 18 are obese (higher than the national average) and close to 10% of this population has diabetes!

For more information on Georgia's Work site Health Initiatives contact:

Georgia Worksite Health Initiative
Georgia DHR, Division of Public Health
2 Peachtree Street, 16-285Atlanta, GA 30303
404.657.6611

Florida Picked for National Health and Wellness Initiative

2009-05-16T16:01:00.001-07:00

Although Florida state government has discontinued the state employee wellness council (because of ineffective reporting) and the state employee wellness program (except a logo) seems to have disappeared from the state website, hopefully state leaders are still interested in determining which strategies are most effective in promoting fitness, nutrition and health in the workplace.

In that spirit, it is exciting to report that Palm Beach County Health Department was selected for a national health and wellness initiative -- one of 43 communities named across the U.S and the only one in Florida.

The program is named Action Communities for Health, Innovation and Environmental Change Initiative (ACHIEVE). Palm Beach County Health Department applied for the program and was selected after a competitive review process. The focus of the program will be on nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco use, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. ACHIEVE will work with local officials to promote improvements such as:

increased access to and use of attractive and safe locations for engaging in physical activity
help with revising school food contracts to include more fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods
ordinances that protect children and adults from secondhand smoke and encourage nonsmoking
requirements for sidewalks and crossing signals in neighborhoods to make them more pedestrian-friendly

Good luck, Palm Beach County! We hope you will be successful and will spread the program to all Floridians who are in need of health and wellness!

The District Of Columbia Graded "D" for Wellness Initiatives

2009-04-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

After a lot of Internet searching and telephone calls to the Mayor's office, it seems to appear that the District of Columbia has a long way to go when it comes to wellness programs for employees and residents within the community. The lack of initiatives seems so strange for a city that is surrounded by health related agencies such as the HHS, the USDA, the CDC, the NHIC, the National Women's Health Information Center and The National Institutes for Health just to name a few!

For those DC residents who can access the web, there is wellness site on the District of Columbia's web page that includes an array of healthy resources. Although a website looks good, it probably does not come close to being handy to the almost 40% of DC residents who are functionally illiterate. DC also records a higher rate of obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart diseases compared to the national average. In addition, a recent national report rating the country for overweight children ages 10 to 17 found The District of Columbia had the highest percentage— 22.8 percent!

For city workers, the District promote discounts to local gyms on the website. Other than that, I could not find one specific employee wellness program in place. There does not seem to be any mandatory health initiative such as health risk assessment, health screenings, incentivized smoking cessation, weight management programs or financial incentives for reaching personal health and fitness goals.

The research was a little more hopeful for the youth of the District. There are many initiatives in the works. One is called AWI Adolescent Wellness Initiative. The goals of the program are to promote positive behavior change to enhance and improve health literacy. Participants are involved in weekly training sessions for nine months of concentrated wellness education with volunteer mentors assigned to them. It will be interesting reviewing the findings and outcomes over the next few years.

If the District does have any wellness programs in place, they obviously are not being promoted. DC needs help and they need it quick! DC - Implement a city wide health promotion program ASAP! If you need more information contact: Juliet@wellnesscorporatesolutions.com

Delaware, the Darling State of Wellness!

2009-04-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

It seems Delaware has been well aware of the need to encourage employees to take responsibility for their own health and wellness since 2003!

In 2003, the state launched a beta program will 100 employees. The program was an incentivized wellness program created with the philosophy that "a healthy workforce is a more productive workforce." DelaWell was offered free of charge. The program helped employees assess their own personal health risks and provided personal coaching intervention to target lifestyle topics such as back care, blood pressure management, blood sugar control, exercise, nutrition and stress management. All participants received a $100 pre-tax incentive when they attended a biometric screening and completed a health risk assessment.

The program was so successful the State enrolled 1500 more employees for a second year of testing. The ROI was $450K! Delaware currently has made the program available to 65,000 state employees! Go Delaware!

Counting Connecticut with Current Employee Wellness

2009-03-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

Just like other states in the U.S., Connecticut's leading causes of death is chronic disease—such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. And just like the rest of America, obesity is the leading risk factor for developing some of these chronic diseases. In 2007, a program named The Connecticut Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Nutrition, Physical Activity & ObesityPrevention (NPAOP) was implemented to support healthy behaviors by educating, increasing awareness, and promoting policies and environmental changes to help make “the healthy choice, the easy choice.” I am thrilled to report the the program is still being funded in 2009!

One successful initiative was the annual Farmers’ Market, an effort to increase availability and access to, and promote the consumption of, fresh fruits and vegetables. It was started in 2007, at the Capitol Avenue Complex where several state agencies were housed. High participation was reported. The program continues on a seasonal basis. In addition, the NPAOP has an office with real employees and outreach programs throughout the state.

Some other initiatives include:

Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs
Diabetes Awareness Programs
A Healthy Eating, Active Eating Resource Toolkit for businesses and state agencies
Cancer prevention (breast and cervical early detection) and Colorectal Initiative
Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

Keep it going Connecticut! WCS is counting you as one of our wellness winners! We need all of our 50 states to continue supporting wellness initiatives for all Americans.

Colorado Kicks Off Healthline Publication for State Employees

2009-03-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

In these difficult financial times, Colorado's Department of Personnel and Administration is kicking off a new wellness program called Healthy Frontiers. The program is web-based and open to all employees enrolled in the State Medical Plan. The online tool is similar to other online health tools which combine educational materials, online seminars and games, a health risk assessment, ideas for department challenges, and the "take charge of your health message."

It will be interesting to see if the program engages employees to participate without an actual team leader present and no monetary savings. As of March 18th, any Colorado State department could sign up for an exercise challenge called Department Domination to compete for the "fittest department." The fee for competing is $10, and each participant in the winning team will receive a t-shirt. Although a t-shirt might be enough for the already active employees, I doubt this is enough of an incentive for the sedentary population.

Virtual tools have not shown to drive engagement unless they are based around a supportive workplace environment, personal accountability, and incentives. At Wellness Corporate Solutions, we provide on-site team leaders for all of our health challenges. Team leaders have been shown to improve participation rates in wellness programs. Good luck, Colorado! We shall check back for your participation results!

California Takes Action to Improve Employee Health

2009-03-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

In an effort to help more California businesses promote health at work, an online teaching tool has been created by the Network for a Healthy California. The website is funded through the California Department of Public Health, and the program is called The California Fit Business Kit.

The downloadable Kit contains ten powerful tools to help employers implement simple and low-cost health promotion efforts at their work sites. The broad focus of the Kit is increasing the availability of healthy foods and providing opportunities for employees to be physically active at work. Since employees spend nearly half of their waking hours at work, it is imperative that our business culture embrace a system which includes education and implementation of wellness.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has spoken publicly about the need for prevention and wellness as part of the state's health care initiatives. There are many other initiatives being sponsored through grants and universities, but the state still has its work cut out for it because of the large population of of vulnerable, difficult-to-reach migrants, illegals, and uninsured residents. But keep going, California!

Arkansas 2009 Wellness Initiatives Still In Place!

2009-02-23T11:26:00.000-08:00

Ever since Governor Huckabee created the Healthy Arkansas Worksite Wellness site, Arkansas had been viewed as a state leader in comprehensive wellness programs. Unfortunately, even with the Governor's push to incentivize a health lifestyle, the most current data shows that there is still a lot of work to be done. Arkansas' health ranking this year was number 43 out of 50 states. The latest statistics show:

8.7% of the population had diabetes
22% were smokers (higher than the national average)
63.8% were overweight or obese
29 % with a BMI over 30 (higher than the national average)

However, the news is not all bad. Overall, the state has improved on the following:

Although the Health Ranking for Arkansas is 43rd this year, it was 48th in 2007!
Smoking has decreased from 23.7% to 22%.
Infectious diseases decreased from 37 to 16 cases per 100,000.
In the past five years, the percentage of children in poverty declined from 28.3% to 19.1%.

Arkansas is currently using The Healthy Arkansas website to provide strategies to reduce the three primary behavior-related causes of disease which are smoking, physical activity and nutrition. Hometown Health Improvement is another website developed to empower local communities to take ownership of health problems and identify and implement solutions that improve the health of their citizens.

The Arkansas Governor’s Council on Fitness is still funded by an assortment of private and public monies and has been giving out awards to encourage health and wellness for all individuals in Arkansas since its establishment in 1992 by Bill Clinton. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) also has links to the Federal Department of Health and Human Services with programs such as the easy to understand "Quick Guide to Healthy Living." At a time where states funds are in jeapordy, it looks like Arkansas is holding its own to improve the health and wellness of its citizens.

Arizona State Wellness Initiatives Facing Budget Restrictions

2009-02-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Arizona has developed a Wellness Home Page through their government benefits office.

Although the State has launched a new link to the Mayo Clinic Embody Health Portal which supplies information to help employees better manage health conditions such as asthma, headaches, high blood pressure and diabetes, other on site programs have been cut do to severe budget restrictions. These programs include on site health screenings, educational classes, fitness classes, massage and other health related services. This is unfortunate since work site wellness programs have demonstrated the potential to save millions of dollars in direct costs for every dollar invested. A comprehensive wellness program must include a physical presence to help incentivize employees to achieve healthier goals. Websites alone will raise awareness but may not change behaviors. There are many websites available with health information.

The Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition (CPAN) at the University of Arizona has a great website devoted to translating research into effective community health and wellness information for children, adolescents, and men and women of all ages.

Let's hope Arizona takes these on site programs off the "hold" list pending analysis of the money that could be saved when implemented correctly.

What is Alaska Doing to Promote Wellness?

2009-02-03T11:30:00.000-08:00

Alaska seems to be taking the health of it's residents and employees pretty seriously. Bill Hogan, recently appointed Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services http://www.hss.state.ak.us/, was recently quoted as saying, "Many Alaskans lead less satisfying and less productive lives, and many die prematurely each year because of disability and death caused by tobacco, substance abuse, injuries, obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and sexually transmitted diseases. Most of this is attributable to personal choice involving diet, lack of physical activity and tobacco use. The economic impact of chronic disease alone in Alaska is staggering: an estimated $600 million is spent annually on direct medical services and $1.9 billion estimated in lost productivity. Most of this is preventable, and we can do a better job of screening, diagnosing and treating these conditions. Our major strategies for promoting health and wellness include prevention efforts through education; expanding the health-care workforce; developing a statewide trauma system; working with communities on emergency response planning and preparedness; and assessing and mitigating environmental impacts on health in Alaska".

Alaska HHS has created an Obesity Prevention and Control Program. The mission of the program is to prevent and reduce obesity among Alaskans though the promotion of physical activity and good nutrition. Alaska's obesity rates are currently higher than the national average.

The HHS conducted an interesting work site questionnaire to address what policies and programs are already in place in a variety of workplaces. Results can be found at http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/chronic/obesity/pubs/physact/pa_ws.pdf It seems Alaska has it's work cut out for them in creating more current physical activity-related policies, sustainable programs, and accessible environmental supports that would help guide future activity promotion efforts.

If you know about positive programs that are changing peoples lives in Alaska, let us know by sending an email to: juliet@wellnesscorporatesolutions.com

Wellness in Alabama!

2009-01-26T09:18:00.001-08:00

With health costs soaring, Alabama’s State Employee Insurance Board (ASEIB) approved a wellness program that directly links healthy behaviors to premium levels. The Wellness Premium Discount Program will encourage state employees to undergo screening for four health factors that are linked to the development of serious, high-cost conditions. Those measures are blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and body mass index (BMI), a measure of height and weight that indicates amount of body fat.
Currently, the state’s 37,500 active employees pay no premiums for coverage (except for smokers, who pay $25 a month). Beginning Jan.1, 2010, employees will start paying monthly premiums of $50. Those who don’t smoke will have $25 discounted, and those who agree to undergo the screenings will have another $25 deducted. So those who comply will, once again, pay no premiums! In this time of economic difficulty, Alabama is ready to place responsibility on individuals that work for them to take ownership of their health and well being.

Individuals who exceed the baseline measurements for blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol, and blood glucose will be given a voucher to follow up with a physician. The employee will then need to certify annually that that they are working to manage the condition by verifying they have either:

consulted with a physician
participated in a wellness management program
reduced risks through their own self-management

Other states are adopting similar programs. Investing in health promotion and prevention has been proven to pay off for many employers. If you have any question regarding your own wellness program contact juliet@wellnesscorporatesolutions.com

In good health,

Juliet

2009 State by State Wellness Initiatives

2009-01-13T08:33:00.000-08:00

It is well known that health care spending has become epidemic in the public and private sectors of the United States and is expected to soar higher over the next the next few years. Several bills to promote health and wellness initiatives have been introduced in the US congress although most of them have failed to move forward.

For this reason the next 50 blogs of "365 days of wellness" will be devoted to understanding what each state is doing individually to address the problems of physical inactivity, nutrition, smoking and chronic disease.

I am confident we will find state programs that are succeeding and thus educate ourselves on which and what wellness initiatives our most effective. As quoted in The Washington Post article http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/12/AR2009011202892.html
"the rising costs of care and failing economy are driving more Americans into medical debt". Employers can no longer foot the bill. The situation as is is unsustainable. Employers must start adapting long term health and prevention programs now. Hopefully the next 50 blogs will empower employers to do just that with proven ideas and programs that work.

In good health,

Juliet http://www.wellnesscorporatesolutions.com

It's that Time of the Year to Plan Events from the 2009 Health Observance Calendar

2008-12-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

Health observances are special days, weeks, or months used to raise awareness of important health topics. Examples include National Alcohol Awareness Month, American Stroke Month, World Health Day, and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. December is a great time of year for Human Resources personnel to plan events your company may want to promote throughout the year. The new National Health Observance Calendar for 2009 can be found at http://www.healthfinder.gov/nho/nhoyear.asp?year=2009. Each event has at least one or more websites that can be used to get ideas on educating employees about a particular health observance.

For example, at American Stroke Month the link takes you to http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3026377 where there is reliable information on stroke prevention.

Planning your schedule ahead of time will allow you plenty of time to order the free materials that are available at many of the sites. There is so much to choose from, best to start planning now.

Another great way to choose which events you want to promote is to form a wellness committee. A wellness committee should reflect the diverse departments and people that form your company. Ideally your wellness committee members will take part in role modeling and volunteering for events the company supports.

America's Health Ranking Declines in 2007

2008-12-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

Shame on America for showing absolutely no improvement in overall health since 2004! Americans showed a decline in health over the past year despite progress made in several key health indicators like cancer and cardiovascular disease. The most recent National Health Analysis was launched by United Health Foundation, The American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention http://www.apha.org. The report analyzes a comprehensive set of 20 related health measures and the results show the harsh reality of a country that does not focus nearly enough of it's efforts on health prevention. You can view the entire report at: http://www.americashealthrankings.org

Analysis showed Vermont, Minnesota and Hawaii as the nation's healthiest states (perhaps due to the progressive health education programs in those states) with Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas topping the least healthy states.

The three key factors to overall health were:

obesity
smoking
the increase in uninsured Americans

Employers are doing there part to help Americans stay insured. It is now time to embrace our working population with incentives for prevention and lifestyle improvement programs. People who work spend most of their time at work. The work environment must address how we are going to help these individuals get healthier! Support must come from the top down and wellness should be integrated into policy and procedures. Start a basic wellness program today! For more information contact: juliet@wellnesscorporatesolutions.com

American Dietetic Association Turkey Take on Fried vs Roasted

2008-11-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

Deep-frying a turkey is a Southern tradition that has gained nationwide popularity. The deep-frying process seals the outside of the turkey with a crisp texture while the inside stays juicy. Many people wonder if deep frying adds fat to a turkey. If the cooking oil stays hot enough -- 350 degrees F for the entire frying process -- deep-frying makes little difference. A 3½-ounce portion of deep-fried turkey with the skin on contains about 12 grams of fat, compared with 10 grams in a 3½-ounce portion of roasted turkey (white or dark meat) with the skin on. However, if the temperature of the cooking oil falls to 340 degrees F or less, more oil seeps into the turkey meat, adding to the fat content. To save fat and calories, enjoy turkey on Thanksgiving and throughout the year without the skin. That way, a 3½-ounce portion of roasted turkey (white or dark meat) has only 5 grams of fat. If you do choose to indulge and eat the skin this holiday season, be aware of the additional fat and engage in some extra physical activity to burn some of the additional calories and keep the oil hot!