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Wellness In The Workplace
March 2009
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The Three P's of Wellness

Preventive, Predictive, Personalized

We're hearing a lot more about health care reform these days. It's not only a 'good' thing (talk about an understatement), it's moved up to one of the top slots on the President's list of priorities. For the past three years, we've been pointing out that health is more than the absence of disease, but with almost half of all Americans burdened with at least one chronic illness, and considering that 80 percent of all chronic illness is tied to three preventable factors: Obesity and overweight, lack of physical activity and smoking, we say the time to take action is now, before things get worse still. AARP chief Bill Novelli echoes these sentiments, saying, "Not enough attention is paid to wellness." Wellness should indeed be considered preventive, predictive and personalized. And, it shouldn't be an expensive proposition. CONTACT US to find out how we can help your organization reach its wellness goals, affordably and effectively.

Wellness Scales
Have We Reached a Wellness "Tipping Point?"

It's beginning to look like it. And this is big news because in part it means employees now see wellness (and wellness programs) as a means to help control their own health care costs.

Last year Principal Financial Group released the results of a survey, revealing that employees increasingly consider health care cost a major factor in their own health care options. About 50 percent of surveyed employees agreed that they could reduce their personal health care costs by participating in a wellness program. In addition, 54 percent said they believed a wellness program would give them better overall health, and 40 percent said such a program would help them live a longer life. Yet, only one in seven employees (about 14 percent) has access to the educational tools provided by a recognized wellness program. (CLICK HERE to find out what overweight and obesity could be costing your organization.)

We know wellness programs are effective, and can return up to $6 or more for each dollar invested. And, we know that employers can generally earn back the cost of a wellness program if they can reduce risk factors by less than .2 percent (and yes, that's point 2 percent, not 2 percent). So, why aren't more employers providing wellness programs if their employees are willing to participate? One major reason: Too many employers consider wellness an expense rather than an investment. And too many employers just put it off. It remains a "back burner" issue.

Consider that today more than ever, employers are looking for ways to conserve resources and improve productivity. Research shows 34 percent of the workforce is obese and that obesity is associated with a 36 percent increase in spending on health care services-more than smoking or problem drinking. We know too, that lifestyle choices contribute to chronic illness-and ultimately higher health insurance costs. The heaviest employees file twice as many workers' comp claims than do normal weight employees, and their medical costs are seven times higher. Employees are now beginning to realize that they, as well as their employers, are paying for these costs.

Tumultuous times call for stabilizing influences, and wellness is such an influence. With research indicating new employee support, now is the time to put workplace wellness and employee health on the "front burner." In fact, now is exactly the time to begin to realize the financial and other benefits of a sustainable workplace wellness program.

Please CONTACT US if you would like additional information on what LoneStart Wellness can do for your organization, and how easy it is to implement the LoneStart Team Esteem Challenge.
Excited Employees
Wellness, Employee Engagement and Health Care Costs

Yes, it's a mouthful, and yes, wellness, employee engagement and health care costs are related. More closely than you might think. How so?

Participants in employee wellness programs are more empowered employees. They are taking positive steps to reduce health care costs and improve their personal health. They are creating a positive change, for themselves and the companies they work for. By becoming more empowered through their successes, they become more engaged.

If all employees were healthy, health care costs wouldn't be a problem. But, that's just not the way it is. And, wellness is a challenge. Where do the dollars come from to invest in wellness? How do you encourage healthy lifestyles? What happens if you don't? And, are you one of the many organizations that feel they're already spending so much on health care costs, there's nothing left to invest in wellness? If so, you're not alone. But, take heart. There is a solution.

Wellness is an example of one of the most difficult "symptoms" to diagnose in health care. Exactly what is it, how is it defined, how do you know when you have it? One thing is clear-you know when you don't. This is obvious when you look at national spending on health care, and clearer still if you look at what health care costs each of us personally, and what it costs your organization.

Health care costs are projected to top $4 trillion in the next six years. Three-quarters of current spending goes to chronic conditions - conditions that are largely preventable. It's no wonder more employers are viewing wellness programs not just as a way to cut health care costs, but to actually keep their doors open.

This brings us back to empowering and engaging your employees through a wellness program. Through our own ongoing survey of LoneStart Wellness Team Esteem Challenge participants, regardless of what organization or the type of organization they work for, participants overwhelmingly claim they have a heightened perception that their company cares about their personal well-being, and that by participating in the wellness program, they feel better about the organization they work for. This is true employee engagement, and it has multiple dividends for all of us.
Heart Plate
The Metabolic Syndrome Blue-Plate Special

Whether or not your organization has a wellness program in place, or is thinking about one, please share the following facts with your employees.

We've presented this information within the last several months on our LoneStart Wellness Blog, "Wellness and Well-Being", but knowing not everyone reads or participates in blogs, we think it's worth repeating here.

Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors, and includes high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, otherwise known as "good" cholesterol), high fasting glucose levels, and greater waist circumference. There's also a strong connection between metabolic syndrome and being overweight or obese. The presence of three or more of these factors increases the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. An estimated 25 percent of (about 47 million). The increasing number of people with this condition is connected to the rise in obesity rates among adults.

Are you at risk? In addition to the above, here are a few more risk factors, and these can be easily controlled:

  • Do you eat two or more servings of meat a day
  • Do you eat fried foods?
  • How about many of the commonly eaten fast foods (which tend to be fried)?
  • And here's a surprise - do you drink diet soda? (Yes, we said "diet").

If you're nodding yes to these questions, you're at increased risk for metabolic syndrome.

The American Heart Association recommends a diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grain foods; fish at least twice a week; limiting trans fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium; and limiting diet soda as well as foods and beverages with added sugar. (Remember, a regular soda has the equivalent of 13 teaspoons of sugar - and high fructose corn syrup.) They also recommend maintaining a healthy weight, blood pressure and blood glucose level, and at least a moderate level of physical activity.

And so, how do you avoid metabolic syndrome and get to that "place called wellness?" The American Heart Association says, "Lifestyle modification is the preferred treatment of metabolic syndrome." We would add, that making those lifestyle modifications before metabolic syndrome develops, is better still.
Alarm Bells
Alarm Bells Are Ringing

As we all know by now, our health care system is at risk of literally collapsing under its own weight. And, if we are to change it, it's going to mean getting serious about losing some of ours'.

For many, the annual New Year resolution to lose weight, become more physically active and work toward wellness has lost some of its resolve. But, we say it's not just the resolution, but perhaps the method that should be revisited.

On December 22, 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to purchase or consume 28 different over-the-counter supplements and products being sold for weight loss. Since that time, FDA analysis has identified 41 more tainted weight loss products that may put consumers' health at significant risk, bringing the total to 69 products.

According to the FDA press release, prescription drugs were found in these dietary supplements, some at levels that far exceeded their maximum recommended dosages. The health risks posed by these products can be serious; for example, sibutramine, which was found in many of the products, can cause high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia, palpitations, heart attack or stroke. This drug can also interact with other medications that patients may be taking and increase their risks for adverse drug events.

According to the FDA report, consumers should be familiar with the following signs of health fraud:

  • Promises of an "easy" fix.
  • Claims such as "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "secret ingredient," and "ancient remedy."
  • Impressive-sounding terms, such as "hunger stimulation point" and "thermogenesis" for a weight loss product.
  • Claims that the product is safe because it is "natural."
  • Undocumented case histories or personal testimonials by consumers or doctors claiming amazing results.
  • Promises of no-risk, money-back guarantees

And, there you have it, at least some of it. More than 67 percent of our population (and probably your workforce) want to lose weight-and at the same time, want to be well. These should be compatible goals, but consider the method-and beware.

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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 Wellness Initiative will change your workplace.

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