Workplace Health Solutions

www.defineyourself-coaching.com
Be Active. Be Healthy. Work Well.
A look at corporate wellness
Presented by:
Danielle Vindez
Define Yourself Health Coaching

Why Wellness?
The known benefits of corporate health initiatives include:
 Illness prevention
 Stress reduction
 Improved focus and performance
 Optimal health and well-being
 Reduced susceptibility to illness and injuries
 Reduced absenteeism
 Improved morale
 Higher productivity
“Smart business leaders increasingly are finding that it is the right decision to promote health
education, physical activity, and preventive benefits in the workplace.”
Tommy Thompson, Former Secretary of Health and Human Services

Today’s Objectives
• Realize the impact of employee inactivity
on your company’s bottom line.
• Implement a successful wellness program
that makes a positive impact while
keeping costs under control.
• Gain several tips on how to squeeze more
activity into your busy days.

We know
Excess costs are associated with excess health
risks.
The lowest costs are associated with
individuals who have 0 to 2 health risks.
As health risks increase to 3, 4, and 5 or more,
costs increase.
Source: University of Michigan Health Management Research Center Cost Benefit Analysis and Report 2006, pg. 11

Research also shows
According to the University of Michigan Health
Management Research Center Cost Benefit Analysis
and Report of 2006,
The potential average value for
risk avoidancerisk avoidance is $350 per person per year.
The potential average value for
risk reductionrisk reduction is $153 per person per year.

High Risk Criteria
Health Risk MeasureHealth Risk Measure High Risk CriteriaHigh Risk Criteria
Alcohol More than 14 drinks per week
Blood Pressure Systolic >140 mmHg or Diastolic >90 mmHg
Body Weight Body Mass Index > 27.5
Cholesterol Greater than 240 mg/dl
Existing Medical Problem Heart, Cancer, Diabetes, Stroke
HDL Less than 40 mg/dl
Illness Days >5 days last year
Life Satisfaction Partly or Not Satisfied
Perception of Health Fair or Poor
Physical Activity Less than one time per week
Safety Belt Usage Using a safety belt less than 100% of the time
Smoking Current Smoker
Stress High
Source: University of Michigan Health Management Research Center Cost Benefit Analysis and Report 2006, pg. 11

Health Risks Lead to Disease States
Obesity (BMI ≥27.5)
• Hypertension
• Dyslipidemia (high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
High Cholesterol
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Atherosclerosis (fatty buildups in arteries)
High Blood Pressure
• Heart Attacks Stroke
• Heart Failure Kidney Failure
• Atherosclerosis (fatty buildups in arteries Blindness

Alcohol
• Stroke
• Dementia
• Hypertension and other cardiovascular problems
• Depression, suicide and anxiety
• Social problems including unemployment, lost productivity
• Cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, prostate and breast (In general, the risk of cancer
increases with increasing amounts of alcohol)
• Liver Diseases
• Gastrointestinal problems including pancreatitis
Physical Inactivity
Metabolic syndrome
• Overweight (abdominal obesity >35” women, >40” men), high cholesterol, low HDL, high blood
pressure, insulin resistance (elevated glucose >110 fasting).
• Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers
Smoking
• Cancers - bladder, mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, cervix, kidney, lung, pancreas, stomach
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
Health Risks Lead to Disease States

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1986
No Data <10% 10%–14%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)

BRFSS, 1988
No Data <10% 10%–14%

BRFSS, 1992
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%

BRFSS, 1995
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%

BRFSS, 1997
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20

BRFSS, 2000
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20

BRFSS, 2003
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

BRFSS, 2004
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

How Did This Happen?
• Marketing of food products
– Low fat
– Low carb
– Low cholesterol
• Serving sizes have increased
– 20 years ago, a bagel was 3” in diameter with 140 calories
– Today, bagels have a 6” diameter and 210 calories and up
• Super-size, “Extra Value” menus
• Dieting lifestyle
• Sedentary lifestyles - computers - TV

Sedentary Lifestyles
• The average American takes between 2300 and 3000 steps
daily compared to a healthy goal of 10,000 steps
Source: Novartis Nutrition
• “Researchers measured the steps of 98 Amish adults with
pedometers and found men took an average of 18,425 steps
a day, and women took 14,196. Only 4% of Amish adults are
obese, versus 31% of the general population.”
Source: Cooking Light, 7/04

Success Considerations
• Senior management commitment, and buy-in from middle managers.
• A champion, and a committed health promotion planning committee, or team.
• “Healthy company” messages and an environment that supports healthy lifestyles.
• Frequent and regular contact with employees throughout the organization.
• Linkage and integration with human resources and other employee benefits.
• Access to a wide variety of health promotion programs and services.
• Incentives to motivate employees to participate in the health promotion programs.
• Effective targeting of high-risk individuals.
• Effective planning, continuity, and follow-through on all program activities.
• Ongoing evaluation that reports on health and quality of life improvements, cost
reductions, and ROI goals.
Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust. Employer Health Benefits 2006 Annual Survey. August 2007

More about Success
The percent of the population
remaining low risk depends to a
great extent on the
attention given to the
Low Risk Population.

The Define Yourself Solution for Optimal Worksite Health
A. Program design based on the most valid and reliable statistics
B. Accurate and personal health risk assessments
1. Appraise community in health risk terms (HRA) and biometric screenings.
2. Screenings compared annually to track risk trends.
C. Monthly “Total Health” Team meetings - sustain motivation and build
health leaders, provide team with personal assessments with coaching
D. Know your population - personal attention to identifying risks, disease,
sedentary lifestyles, nutritional habits, stress habits, exercise habits
E. Engagement - nutrition discussions, exercise programs, incentives, new
employee orientation, positive feedback
F. Verify Effectiveness - facilitate the transfer of learning,facilitate the transfer of learning, conduct on going
reports immediately after classes and then 6 months later, coach as needed

Discussion
• What have you done to express the
importance of health and wellness to your
employees?
• What incentives do you offer employees
for being active?
• What is your big picture plan?

Programs that Bring a Return on Investment
– Lead from the Top - Executives, and team buy-in
– Identify Risks and Disease - Ex. high BMI = high diabetes risk,
– Promote Targeted Health Initiatives - engage in effective
services - coach, trainer, nutritionist
– Drive Employee Participation - 80% participation over any three-year
period, and 70% low-risk
– Make it Personal - themed awareness months, employee incentives,
family incentives
– Offer a Total Health Environment - medical flex-plan incentives,
group walks, back strength classes, nutrition classes, morning stretch, healthy
food vendors, newsletters, health tips strategies
– Measure Efforts and Make Adjustments
University of Michigan Health Management Research

Health Benefits of Walking
• Walking at a moderate to vigorous pace for
fifteen minutes a day, twice a day, most days of
the week can lower risk for
– Heart Disease
– Stroke
– High Cholesterol
– Diabetes
– Colon and Breast cancer
American Heart Association

Wear a Pedometer or Fitness Monitor
• Pedometers have been proved to encourage
you to walk 3,000 or more additional steps a day
• Here’s what 3,000 more steps a day for 3
months can mean:
– 3.3 lbs. lost
– 0.6 reduction in BMI
– 1 cm drop in waist circumference
– 11,550 extra calories burned
– 4 beat-per-min drop in resting heart rate

Getting More Steps in Your Day
• Keep an extra pair of walking shoes in
your car or at work
• Walk or play with the family at the end of
the day
• Park at the farthest (but safe) spot at the
grocery store, drugstore, work
• Walk during your break times
• Take the stairs

Offer Fun Incentives
• Gift certificate to sporting goods
store/shoe store
• Gym bag, workout gloves, heart rate
monitor
• IPod, MP3 player
– Studies show that women listening to music
while walking burn more calories
• Pedometers

Enjoy a Happier, Healthier Workplace
and reap the benefits!
Thank you!

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