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Wellness In The Workplace
December 2006 - Vol 1, Issue 6
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Workplace Wellness Challenges
2007

Now Is Exactly The Time

It's never too soon—and it's never too late

The New Year is right around the corner, and with it, the annual New Year’s resolutions. One of the top three resolutions will probably make it to most of our lists—Lose Weight, eat better, get healthy. January is a great time to kick-off your employee wellness initiative since you’ll already have really motivated employees, many seeking “recovery” from the holidays. To be most effective, your initiative should encourage personal responsibility as well as healthy decision-making. And, now’s the time to start a pre- event interest building campaign to take advantage of the January “let’s get started attitude.”

This means building interest, curiosity, awareness, momentum and the understanding that this is an issue that needs to be addressed now. It means getting the critical “buy-in” from all stakeholders in your organization. And, it means establishing the foundation for long-term success, not just short term results.

This means too, finding the approach that encourages employees to “take that step.” It’s about creating an opportunity and providing the tools and resources to understand the difference a weight loss / wellness program can make, for your employees, their families and the company itself. It’s about changing behavior and it’s about keeping that change as simple as possible.

How? How hard can it be? We all know we should eat healthier and become more active. But do we always? It’s hard enough to make those changes and it’s even harder to change the culture of a business. But it can be done, and it can be done without becoming “just one more thing you have to do.”

Here’s how LoneStart can get your employees and your organization ready to kick-off the New Year with a proven, sustainable, cost-effective and ready-to-implement wellness initiative. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LONESTART TEXAS 3-STEP

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Companies, hospitals and other organizations have declared war. And the battle is shaping up. According to the National Business Group on Health, obesity and overweight and related conditions are estimated to contribute as much as $93 billion to the nation’s annual medical bill. And of that, the total cost of obesity to U.S. companies is estimated at more than $13 billion a year—including $8 billion for added health insurance costs, $2.4 billion for paid sick leave, $1.8 billion for life insurance and $1 billion for disability insurance. The economic cost comes down to 39 million lost work days, 239 million days where work activity is restricted, 90 million sick days and 63 million visits to physicians.

Overweight and obesity ranges are calculated using weight and height to determine the “body mass index” BMI, which correlates with the amount of body fat. According to the CDC, a person who is 5-feet, 9-inches and weighs between 125 to 168 pounds is considered a healthy weight. The same person weighing 169 to 202 pounds is overweight, and the same person weighing more than 203 pounds is considered obese. Says the CDC, “when statistics are tallied, more than half of all Americans fall into the category of overweight or obese.” (CALCULATE)

The National Coalition on Health Care, NCHC, says that in 2005 employer health insurance premiums increased by 9.2 percent, nearly three times the rate of inflation, and that in 2004, the last year for which figures are available, health care spending totaled $1.9 trillion.

Each month that this issue goes on the “back burner” it cuts into corporate profits. By figuring the number of employees and annualizing national statistical averages through medical, prescription, and lost productivity costs, an employer can expect to incur the following costs per month due to the conditions of overweight and obesity.

25 employees: $ 1,450 per month
50 employees: $ 2,900 per month
100 employees: $ 5,800 per month
200 employees: $11,600 per month
500 employees: $29,100 per month

In terms of general trends, for most employers sooner or later the deal they get on health insurance depends on how expensive their workers are. And most national business advocacy groups and associations now acknowledge that obesity and overweight are “preventable conditions,” which means by definition that the condition is recognized, and that we all can do something about it. According to the National Business Group on Health, through its Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity, obesity is now considered a greater trigger for health problems and increased health spending than smoking or drinking.
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Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital Wraps-Up the LoneStart Team Esteem Challenge

“Of the 49 employees who participated in the LoneStart Wellness Challenge, we experienced a total loss of 453.25 pounds, 895.75 inches and a total BMI reduction of 75.5 points. It amazes our employees how they essentially doubled the loss of inches compared to total weight loss. Now the majority of employees are talking about making this their lifestyle. I think this is remarkable.” — Nancy Kinkler, Administrator, Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital

A total of 17 teams with between two and three employees per team completed the 63-Day LoneStart Team Esteem Wellness Challenge on November 12, 2006. Nancy Kinkler, Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital Administrator, says the program was effective because it “was doable, promoted teamwork and team dynamics, and offered positive reinforcement. Rather than focusing on diet and exercise, the program was presented as a lifestyle behavioral change leading to long-term wellness.” Added bonuses were the cash incentives offered to the winning team, and the individual “winning loser.”

In addition to the regular LoneStart program contents and recommendations, Otto Kaiser implemented several unique and effective elements of its own. The hospital asked the County Extension Agent, Jenny Russell, to record and monitor the measurements. In addition to measuring BMI, which includes a weight measurement, Russell also measured inches and took before and after photos. And, rather than provide the LoneStart Program Kits at the hospital’s expense to all participants, the cost was divided between the hospital and each participant, with the understanding that if the participant lost or maintained BMI points, the hospital would reimburse the participants their half of the program cost. Kinkler says this financial and psychological buy-in helped motivate employees to make a real effort during the 63-day challenge.

Every team lost inches and weight—and in that regard, every team and team member was a winner. But, Yolanda Reyes was the individual “losing winner” with a reduction of 31.5 pounds, 21.5 inches and 5.8 BMI points.

“Thanks Otto Kaiser and Ms. Kinkler for helping me lose weight. The team was a great idea. Yolanda and Mary Ann kept me motivated to exercise and Yolanda made a great lunch for us every day,” says Beverly Montez, who lost 21 pounds, 31.5 inches and 3.6 BMI points herself.

With this success under its belt (and fewer inches and pounds) Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital plans to keep the LoneStart program going, and to take it into the community in January.

Taking Care of the Caregivers

The following testimonial has been provided by Patricia Garcez, RN and Home Health Director at Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital.

"The LoneStart program has been a big eye-opener and changed not only my life but the lives of my team and their families. We have changed not only physically with a weight loss of 61.25 pounds and 109.5 inches, but also emotionally. As a team we have changed our food habits, incorporated T-Tapp exercise and see our self worth. I personally have been a diabetic since I was 24 years old. Diet and exercise have been an issue for me not so much because of food but because I am a busy health care professional with children. I did not think I had time to eat planned, balanced meals. And I especially didn't think I had time to exercise. Now, I have learned to make time for myself, to not only plan healthy meals that I cook for myself and family, but to make time to exercise.

"This is where I see the biggest change in my body—weight loss in combination with inches lost. My Hemoglobin AIc prior to the LoneStart Challenge was at 6.7, and after the 63-day Challenge, it was down to 5.9. My doctor was pleasantly surprised and very pleased with the changes in my daily routine. My blood sugar the start date of the challenge was RBS - 203 mg/dl, and by the end of the challenge, my blood sugar was 122 mg/dl. My entire team's diastolic blood pressure dropped more than 10 points for each of us.

"This overall has been such a positive program for personal growth. As health care professionals we are so busy taking care of our patients, their families, and our own families and friends that we put ourselves last. This program has made us put ourselves first and by doing this it may have just saved one of our lives. I know that it has changed my life forever, not just for 63 days.Thank you."

— Patricia Garcez, RN
father & daughter
It's A Family Thing
Father - Daughter Team Pave Way to Family's Future Success

“As an Administrative Assistant at Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital, I work alongside my father who is a Pharmacy Tech / Supervisor. My dad is in his mid-fifties, and as I see patients on a daily basis with illnesses and disease, I can’t help but be concerned for his future health and well being—as well as for my own. Together we were part of the LoneStart Program that just concluded here at Otto Kaiser. I did well, but my dad did great! I saw his lifestyle totally change before my eyes. He went from eating out at his favorite restaurants, to eating out healthy at his favorite restaurants. He went from not exercising at all, to exercising 2 to 3 miles a day faithfully, and is now jogging 5 miles a day. During the 63-day LoneStart Challenge, he lost 17 pounds, 16.5 inches and 2.4 BMI points—and counting. He is my inspiration, yet again! Many times we don’t realize that our kids are following the same nutritional choices and exercise habits that we portray. I’m proud to say that together, my dad and I are paving the way for our family’s future generations by the steps that we are taking today.”

— Christina Benavides, Administrative Assistant

If your organization is ready to take responsibility for promoting healthy lifestyles and a healthy work environment, LoneStart is an effective, low-cost and easy-to-administer employee wellness program, which functions equally well as a stand-alone initiative or as a high-impact jump-start to existing or proposed employee wellness strategies.

Contact us today to find out how the LoneStart 21-Day Wellness Initiative will change your workplace.

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A Challenge. An Opportunity. A Solution.
The LoneStart 21-Day Wellness Initiative
phone: 512.894.3440