May 2010

28 May 2010

Women in the Workplace Don't Get Skinny with the Web Alone

Almost 60% of women ages 18-64 use the internet to look up health information.

How this female population uses the web to improve their health is unclear.  Additionally, the effectiveness of online behavior change programs in the workplace is still unproven.

What is clear, however, is that after visiting a health portal, these web surfers are very likely to embark on a program to exercise and lose weight. They prefer both online and offline information about wellness. They respond to incentives, especially cash in excess of $250 and reductions in health insurance premiums. They will use the web as a catalyst to schedule a preventative exam or reduce stress. The better educated they are, the more likely they are to track their progress via the web. And, as is the case with most critical changes in any behavior, spousal support goes a long way to ensure success.

The web is a great place to start, assess, and track healthy behaviors for college-educated women in the workplace. Keeping them motivated to sustain a healthy lifestyle takes offline support by a trusted partner, some cash, and the confidence in knowing that their information is secure.

19 May 2010

Exercise So Easy, Even a Caveman Can Do It

According to the Mayo Clinic, starting a fitness program may be one of the best things an individual can do for their health. 

The latest Surgeon General’s report supports this as well.  In case you’ve lived in a cave for the past few years, you’ve already heard that regular physical activity reduces the danger of succumbing to heart disease, the leading cause of death in our country.  And for you CFO's out there, an active fitness participant can cost your organization up to $1,250 less in health care costs per year according to a 2008 study in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease. Wellness can also reverse the effects of hypertension, diabetes, and certain cancers, as well as reduce hospital admission rates significantly for these same conditions. Numerous studies also confirm that exercise can not only prolong your employees’ lives, but can also stave off depression, anxiety, and other emotional issues. 

What might not be as obvious as the fact that exercise is good for you and your employees is that like all things, exercise should be done in moderation.  Nothing breeds success like success, and for those who need exercise the most this means starting out with a low to moderate level of physical activity. Walking is a great example of a level of activity that for most employees is a safe and simple platform for better health.

Whatever program for physical activity your company offers in their wellness palate, it should be based on both common sense and solid science.  A moderate exercise program is one that your employees will be able to enjoy and stay engaged in for a long healthy lifetime.   

06 May 2010

A Whole-istic Wellness Picture - Your Only Option

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines health as: “1 a : the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially : freedom from physical disease or pain b : the general condition of the body <in poor health> <enjoys good health> 2 a : flourishing condition.”

A conversation about how to keep your company’s bottom line in good health is incomplete if the condition of your employees’ minds and spirits are overlooked.  If an employee isn’t sleeping, is depressed, anxious, or addicted, and they don’t have access to the tools that empower them to fix themselves and their loved ones, then your health and wellness plan may be fatally shortsighted.  When people are hurting emotionally, they may become a liability to your company, as well as to themselves.

These days, stress levels are off the charts.  Employees struggle because they don’t have the same breathing room as in the past; they may be singlehandedly performing jobs that used to require two or three people in half the time.  Everyone is plugged in 24/7.  Human beings are amazingly resilient, but also extremely fragile.  When something happens that affects hearts and heads, people need support, information and education to cope.  That’s a truly comprehensive wellness picture.