1. DR. CEDRIC X. BRYANT, FACSM
Chief Science Officer—American Council on Exercise (ACE)
Dr. Bryant is an international lecturer, writer and expert in fields of fitness,
nutrition and exercise. He has written more than 200 articles or columns for trade
magazines, and sports medicine and exercise science journals, and has
authored, co-authored or edited over 30 books. He has produced editorial
contributions for publications including USA Today, The New York Times, Wall
Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Consumer Reports, Fox
News, and CNN Headline News.
Dr. Bryant is an advisory board member for numerous organizations including:
Center for the Study of Sport, Seattle University, Women’s Health, Good
Housekeeping, ClubLife and Oxygen magazines.
Creating a Workplace Culture of Wellness
Regular physical activity can improve your productivity, enhance your overall health
and fitness profile, and help mitigate work-related stress. Whether you’re a small
business owner, a corporate human resources manager, or a front-line
supervisor, promoting physical activity on the job makes sense.
For many organizations, identifying easy-to-implement ways to foster an active
workplace culture is a challenge. I will share simple ways to do this.
2. Creating a Workplace Culture of Wellness
Cedric Bryant, Ph.D., FACSM
Chief Science Officer
American Council of Exercise
3. Largest nonprofit fitness certification and education organization
in the world
Network of more than 55,000 health and fitness professionals
Unbiased evaluator of fitness products, programs, and trends
Builder of collaborative relationships across the health and
fitness industry lines
Organization that helps people live their most fit lives
6. Benefits of Workplace Wellness
Tangible
Health
Productivity
Worker‟s Compensation
Absenteeism
Employee Retention
Intangible
Company Morale
Employee Awareness
Engagement & Loyalty
7. ACE Wellness Committee
Initiate a Wellness committee
involve multiple departments
SMART Goals – what does „success‟ look like?
EX: e.g.: participation, sick time, engagement survey
What does wellness mean within your culture
(visit the wellness wheel and your company core values)
Plan quarterly campaigns in monthly meetings,
delegate responsibilities representation from
multiple departments helps with participation
8. ACE Wellness Committee
Campaigns range from 6-10wks in length and
are measurable
Spring Clean your Wellness
7wks: 7 dimensions of wellness
Maintain Campaign 10wks: maintain weight
over holidays
Health Fair
Training for America‟s Finest city ½ marathon
and 5k
10. 12 months of giving: one month of volunteering, one
month of donations.
Serving meals at St. Vincent de Paul Village and
Volunteer Beach clean up
Youth Advocates – Bottoms-up drive (donating
diapers for families in need)
Fun Activity Teams – each department is responsible
for a month
Casual dress, „dress-up‟ days – conducive to
movement
ACE WW Culture
11. ACEFIT.COM
57,000 27,000 7,600
Fit Facts
Research studies and reviews
„Ask the Expert‟ blogs
Workout-inspired videos
Recipes and cooking videos
16. Thank you
DR. CEDRIC X. BRYANT, FACSM
Chief Science Officer—American Council on Exercise (ACE)
17. Standing More and Sitting Less at Rodale
The first standing workstation was introduced at Rodale over 10 years ago. We will
discuss how that was introduced to employees, its evolution over the years, and what
makes Rodale a thought-leader in healthy workplace options because we know our
business depends on it.
KELLY HARTSHORNE , RN, BSN, COHN-S
Health & Safety Services—Rodale,Inc.
Kelly has worked in the Occupational Health Nursing Field for over 18 years in industrial and
corporate settings, and has provided her expertise to Rodale for the last 10 years. She is
responsible for Rodale’s Employee Wellness & Safety programs, which includes ergonomic
evaluations, making recommendations and adjustments, and coordinating the implementation of
workspace changes with the Facilities Management team. Kelly is excited about the “JustStand”
movement at Rodale.
KRISTI LANE
Facilities & Space Planning Coordinator—Rodale,Inc.
Kristi is responsible for designing, managing, and maintaining Rodale’s master space plan, which
includes strategic and tactical space planning solutions and ensuring that the options meet the
established goals. One of Kristi’s responsibilities is to work with individual employee s to customize
their personal work space. This includes promoting the “Just Stand” movement, as featured in our
very own Men’s Health magazine.
23. Testimonials
“Just a note of thanks for helping me get a standing desk. I love it.
Being able to stand most of the day and sit when I need too has
really made a difference to my piriformis and hams, and I can feel
the difference in less tightness and pain.”
Jeff C.
Executive Editor Special Projects
“I love new workstation. It helps me feel more
energetic throughout the entire workday.”
Jason P.
Staff Accountant
Real Rodale Office Areas
Images distorted to Protect Employee Identities
24. “I LOVE the Ergotron……my back is not as stiff and
my chiropractor has noticed a difference. Also with
the Ergotron, my wrists feel better. When you stand,
you change hand position on the keyboard. Since
using the Ergotron, I feel more energetic! I can work
longer and I am more productive. I actually pace a
little when I stand and this keeps the blood flowing
and me awake!”
Ann K
Manager Of General AccountingReal Rodale Office Area
Image distorted to Protect Employee Identity
25. Other “Healthy” Options Rodale Offers Employees….
Ping Pong Conference Room
Making it Easy to
Bike To Work
Recycling Centers
Treadmill Work Areas
27. Thank you
KELLY HARTSHORNE , RN, BSN, COHN-S
Health & Safety Services—Rodale,Inc.
KRISTI LANE
Facilities & Space Planning Coordinator—Rodale,Inc.
28. TRACI KUBISIAK, MS, CWP
Worksite Wellness Consultant—David Martin Benefit Consulting Group
In her role as Worksite Wellness Consultant, Traci offers clients of the David
Martin Agency best practice wellness strategies, helping them identify ways to
maximize health improvement resources and assisting with program
implementation. She has lent her expertise authoring and providing editorial
content for publications such as Minnesota Business, Enterprise Minnesota,
and Self Funding Magazine.
Traci has an MS degree in Wellness Management, is certified through the
National Wellness Institute, and is a member of WELCOA (Wellness Councils
of America) and also the Benefit Advisors Network.
David Martin: Taking a Stand for Health
Meet David Martin Benefit Consulting Group. This organization may seem small at just
over 30 employees, but they are taking a big stand—for the benefit of their clients, their
work and for their health! Hear how they have infused wellness into their organization as
well as advanced well-being for their clients of all sizes and industries.
This organization has received multiple awards for being a Healthy Workplace and
one of the Best Places to Work.
29. AMY TOMCZYK
Director of Outreach and Education– Blue Zones
Amy has worked with Blue Zones since 2006 and her role currently includes
being the Blue Zones Speaking Agent. She leads national level marketing,
communications and public relations strategies to promote Blue Zones and
increase engagement in the community and workplace health programs called
“Blue Zones Projects.”
She oversees the public speaking business and maintains key relationships with
sponsors, clients, vendors, and the public. Amy received her Masters in
Education from Loyola College of Maryland and her BA from University of
Minnesota, School of Journalism.
Blue Zones—Creating Environments of Health
Amy will share the Blue Zones model of longevity and well-being improvement and
how it is applied in communities, as well as workplaces, to create environments of
health.
Amy will provide specific examples of how shifting the focus from individuals to
evidence-based ways to optimize one's "life radius", will create healthier places in
which to live.
34. Blue Zones Power 9®
Power 9® is a registered trademark of Blue Zones, LLC. All rights reserved.
Move Naturally
1. Make daily physical activity an unavoidable
part of your environment
Right Outlook
2. Know your purpose
3. Downshift: Work less, slow down, take vacations
Eat Wisely
4. Eat until 80% full
5. More veggies, less meat & processed food
6. Drink a glass of red wine each day
Belong
7. Create a healthy social network
8. Connect/reconnect with religion
9. Prioritize family
37. 27% community participation
Added 1.7 miles of connected walkways
near and around the lake
City adopted Complete Streets and
supportive policies
Established “Walking School Buses”
Schools adopted 7 new policies such as no
snacking
Walking School Bus
Results from Albert Lea, Minnesota: First 10 Months
38. Results from Albert Lea, Minnesota: First 10 Months
Changed restaurant menus for healthier options
Participants lost a collective 12,000 lbs.
Added 2.9 years of longevity per participant
City reported reduced medical costs
Lead employer reported absenteeism down by 18%
39. Established tobacco free multi-unit housing
Added a Blue Zones® Checkout Lane that only offers healthy “grab
and go” options at the local Hy-Vee
Improved nutrition in schools with Farm to School efforts, school
gardens and more improved vending policies
First bike lane installed
Completed 5-mile walking, jogging and biking route around
Fountain Lake that now goes all the way around the lake and
is part of an additional 3.1 miles of newly connected sidewalks
Results from Albert Lea, Minnesota: Following Years
40. Drove community volunteerism
Held additional Purpose Workshops
More worksites implemented wellness programs
Went from 14% to 23% of employees in tobacco free worksites
Community-wide events engaged people in block parties, biking,
walking
Volunteer led committee organizes this ongoing effort
Results from Albert Lea, Minnesota: Following Years
41. Beach Cities
KEY SELECTION FACTORS
Readiness, Motivation and Leadership
Strong partner for innovation with the Beach
Cities Health District (BCHD)
A diverse and aging population (Silver Tsunami)
Opportunities to improve walkability, bikeability,
emotional health
Redondo Beach
Manhattan Beach
Hermosa Beach (Los Angeles) –
The Pilot National Project
42. Two Year Beach Cities Key AccompLishments
Well-Being Index Score: Improved from 73.3 to 76.4
Improvement in number of fruits and veggies consumed, work environment,
and life evaluation over rest of state of CA
Community Awareness
Community/Policy
Worksites
Individuals
Restaurants
200 million media impressions,
15,000 individual program encounters
Outdoor smoking bans in 2 cities; livability and bicycling
plans adopted; $1.4 million in new grants received, 11
Walking School buses; schools engaged in MindUp and
other programs
153 employers engaged
145 Walking Moai teams with 1450 participants;
over 200 volunteers; 1000 attended purpose workshop;
1000 attended community rally
42 Blue Zones designated restaurants
44. Well-Being Jump by the Numbers!
What it means?
• $2.35M h.care savings
• $8.03M savings in work loss
productivity
What it means?
• $6.97M h.care savings
45. 454545
The Value Proposition of Improved Well-Being
Improve
Well-Being
Adopt or maintain
healthy behaviors
Reduce health-related risks
Optimize care for health
conditions and disease
Increase
Performance
Productivity
Engagement
Absence
Work Impairment
Reduce Total
Medical Cost
Hospitalizations
Event Rates
Disease Rates
Lifestyle Risks
Increase Total
Economic Value
• States
• Communities
• Sponsors
• Individuals
Prevent or delay disease or condition
Prevent or reduce impact of and need for health care
Enhance one’s ability to actively manage their own well-being
Economic Drivers
Confidential and Proprietary
So, I’d like to share with you the Blue Zones community health experiment that not only includes movement, but all aspects of health and well-being. Let me start from the beginning. The Danish Twin Studies established that 80% of how long you live is lifestyle and environment, the other 20% is divided between mostly between genes and preventative medicine. If lifestyle and habits account for so much, we at Blue Zones wanted to find out where there were pockets of people who were doing it right. Through funding with National Geographic, we found the five demographically confirmed geographic locations where entire populations of people live exceptionally long, healthy lives well into their 90s and 100s.They were named Blue Zones areas by National Geographic explorer and author Dan Buettner. In these longevity “hotspots,” people are three times more likely to live to be one hundred than the rest of us. On average, people living in Blue Zones areas live twelve more good years than U.S. citizens. And these are lives sitting in nursing homes.. These people live amazingly vibrant, active lives with next to no chronic health conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer or dementia or cognitive decline.
The research from these five Blue Zones areas became a best selling book and top selling article for National Geographic by Dan Buettner.
Remarkably, we see the same characteristics among the world's longest lived people no matter where you go. We call those characteristics the Power 9 The Power 9 are lifestyle principles are small, easy steps that everyone can take in their daily lives to feel better, live longer, and be happier. These simple behaviors are patterned after the lifestyles of people who live in Blue Zones areas and include… [briefly overview each]Move naturally. People in Blue Zones areas don’t work out at a gym…they move more throughout their day by walking and gardening and doing housework. Many don’t own TV remote controls, cars, or pay someone else to mow or shovel.They wake up with a sense of purpose. People with a reason to wake up in the morning live longer than those without.Downshift. Each day they take 20 minutes to unplug. It can be meditating like in Okanawa or napping in Ikaria, Greece. They relax.They eat wisely: First, they eat a bit fewer calories than Americans do and have a practice to support that. They stop eating when they are about 80% full.They eat a plant slant of mostly veggies and fruit and next to no processed food. They are not pure vegetarian cultures, but like Thomas Jefferson said, we should eat meat as a condiment. Typically about 2-3 times a MONTHA popular lesson, for adults who have a healthy relationship to alcohol, a glass a day is a healthy choice….but no saving them all up for Friday. Our friends matter. The Framingham research proved that happiness, depression, obesity, and other health conditions are contagious through our social circles….just like a cold. Our friends matter. Pick good friends who enjoy being active and support you when you need it.Show up. Researches at two little know universities called Harvard and Duke found that people who attend a religious service more than four times per month, live 4-14 years longer than those who don’t show up. We don’t advocate any specific faith. Just point out that research shows it helps.Last but definitely not least…family matters. Taking care of family and loved ones and especially being connected across generations contributes to longevity.Those are the Power 9. Those behaviors from the Blue Zones areas aren’t adopted during a short-term wellness program from January through March. They’re adhered to for decades – an entire lifetime. And that’s why they work to add 12 extra good years of quality longevity. So, how do we make that work for ourselves?
Inner Self – also referred to as PurposeProvide the community an opportunity to explore their gifts, talents, passions and beliefs. Determine how they can better contribute those gifts to the community.There is no silver bullet for improving well-being, but there may be silver buckshot — through acoordinated strategy that reaches across age groups, interests, income levels, and industry sectors.An environmental approach seeks to create permanent policy changes that make healthy choices, easier.
In 2009, with a grant from AARP and the United Health Foundation, Blue Zones completed a state wide search and selected Albert Lea, Minnesota, a statistically average American city, to complete a one year community health experiment. Using the model I described, we created a “perfect storm” of health that transformed their typically obese American city of 18,000. They reversed the trend and also got happier. They adopted evidence based ways to change their environment to live longer and better and got healthier without thinking about it.
What is striking is after just 2 years and the successes just described, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index found Beach Cities overall well-being climbed 3 points since 2012. This is significant because the WBI is designed to be a very stable index. A 3 points jump in 2 years is considerable movement.Beach Cities was already pretty healthy, so upward movement is extremely exciting. This life far exceeded our expectations.The health cares savings already projected at $9.32 million.
Looking at some specifics: Obesity — even comparatively low obesity — costs the Beach Cities a LOT of money in incremental healthcare costs and lost productivity annually. In 2012, 14% fewer Beach Cities residents are obese than in 2010. 1,645 fewer adults are obese$2.35 million savings in healthcare related costsRises to $8.03 million savings if include employee sick days, lost productivity, etc. 30% reduction in smoking: Over 3,000 fewer adults smoke$6.97 million savings in healthcare-related costs10% increase in exercise9% increase in healthy eatingIn summary – it’s been a remarkable first two years.
You can summarize the value of well-being this way. As you improve well-being you reduce total medical costs while increasing performance. That adds up to increased economic value for every aspect of society.
A traditional approach to workplace wellness might include health assessments, biometric screenings and incentives for healthier behaviors.Often times these wellness opportunities are only offered during a limited wellness program – not even throughout the year.This approach is limited in scope, lacks sustainability, can’t be successful at any real change to employee’s beliefs or commitment to their jobs. At best, they only change behavior for the length of the program. Real changes to well being changes the workplace culture. They focus on leadership development, Individual and organizational assessments of purpose, ideal physical environment, optimized social connections, quality policies and benevits, solutions for well-being improvement such as coaching and programming.