PRESENTATION SueParks

Be Active. Be Healthy. Work Well.A look at corporate wellness programs : Be Active. Be Healthy. Work Well. A look at corporate wellness programs Presented by: Sue Parks Founder and CEO, WalkStyles Inc.


Introduction: Sue Parks : Introduction: Sue Parks Avid walker turned entrepreneur Dedicated to 10,000 steps a day Founder and CEO of WalkStyles, Inc. Products and services to improve your life through walking Began corporate wellness programs in January 2006


Introduction: Today’s Presentation : Introduction: Today’s Presentation Purpose Learn how corporate wellness programs can improve your company’s productivity Process We’ll examine statistics, share ideas and offer suggestions for your own company Payoff Leave with knowledge on how to start a wellness program for your employees


Introduction: Today’s Objectives : Introduction: Today’s Objectives Realize the impact of employee inactivity on your company’s bottom line Learn how to develop and implement a corporate wellness program within your company Gain several tips on how to squeeze more activity into your busy days


The Problems: Obesity and Inactivity : The Problems: Obesity and Inactivity Overweight and inactive employees cost US companies $12 BILLION per year in medical bills, injuries and lost productivity Obesity outranks both smoking and drinking in increased health costs Source: Washington Business Group on Health 70% of all illnesses are due to lifestyle-related causes including obesity and inactivity Source: CDC & US Department of Health and Human Services


Disease States Associated with Overweight and Obesity : Disease States Associated with Overweight and Obesity Hypertension Type 2 diabetes Coronary heart disease Stroke Gallbladder disease Osteoarthritis Sleep apnea and respiratory problems Some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1985 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1985 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1986 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1986 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1987 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1987 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1988 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1988 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1989 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1989 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1990 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1990 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1991 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1991 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1992 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1992 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1993 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1993 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1994 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1994 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1995 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1995 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1996 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1996 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1997 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1997 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1998 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1998 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1999 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1999 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2000 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2000 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2001 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2001 No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25% (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


Slide24 : (*BMI 30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25% (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person) Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2002


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2003 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2003 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%


Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2004 : Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2004 No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25% (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)


How Did This Happen? : 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 Super-size, “Extra Value” menus Yo-yo dieting Sedentary lifestyles


Sedentary Lifestyles : 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. Compare that to about 4,000 steps for the average American adult, and it is easy to see why only 4% of Amish adults are obese, versus 31% of the general population.” Source: Cooking Light, 7/04


Spa Professionals: Added Stress : Spa Professionals: Added Stress In addition to weight and inactivity issues, spa professionals work in a high-stress environment Focus is on making client relaxed – not you Tired, drained at end of the day No time/energy for fitness routine


The Solution: Corporate Wellness Programs : The Solution: Corporate Wellness Programs Various forms of corporate wellness programs: Health screenings On-site fitness centers, fitness staff Fitness contests and incentives Personal life coaches On-site nurses Internet checkup tools Spa programs including massage and therapy


Who’s Offering Corporate Wellness? : Who’s Offering Corporate Wellness? A number of US corporations including Ford, General Mills and IBM formed the Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity to address the growing epidemic Source: Forbes.com PepsiCo Sears Pitney Bowes


The Benefits : The Benefits Companies have earned returns as much as 300 percent on investments encouraging healthy living in the workplace Source: CFO.com Upbeat, energetic employees Less absenteeism Offer a more healthy, relaxed environment to your clients


Corporate Wellness Spending : Corporate Wellness Spending A study by Brigham Young University found that for every dollar spent on health promotions in the workplace, $16 is saved through less absenteeism. Source: Medical News Today, 3/05 The Health Research Institute found that companies with an employee fitness plan cut their health care costs by 27% Source: Orange County Business Journal, 12/04


5 Reasons to Consider Corporate Wellness : 5 Reasons to Consider Corporate Wellness Health care costs continue to rise More than one trillion dollars is spent on health care in the US Annual health care costs for each employee is more than $3,000/year Most illnesses are avoidable Sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, smoking and alcohol account for the majority of illnesses


5 Reasons to Consider Corporate Wellness(cont.) : The work week is getting longer The typical employee works 47 hours a week Technology is introducing new health concerns Employee stress levels are high 78% of Americans describe their jobs as stressful Source: Orange County Business Journal, 12/05 5 Reasons to Consider Corporate Wellness (cont.)


Discussion : Discussion Do any of you currently have a corporate wellness program in place? What have you done to express the importance of health and wellness to your employees? What incentives do you offer employees for being active?


Bring Wellness to Your Employees : Bring Wellness to Your Employees Large-scale efforts: Hire a personal coach, nutritionist, fitness instructor, etc. to education your employees Utilize an outside company’s corporate wellness package Offer medical flex-plan incentives in cooperation with your insurance provider Build on-site facilities including a healthy cafeteria and gym


Bringing Wellness to Your Employees : Bringing Wellness to Your Employees Smaller-scale efforts: Host themed awareness months concentrating on various health topics Nutrition Strength training Pilates Yoga Medical screening Stress management


Bringing Wellness to Your Employees : Smaller-scale efforts: Be sure that foods offered in your company are clearly labeled with nutritional information Organize group walks, runs, yoga or stretching sessions each morning or afternoon Offer small financial incentives to employees who complete an exercise or nutrition plan Introduce the benefits of walking to your employees and offer pedometers Bringing Wellness to Your Employees


Example Program : Example Program Perfect Day Spa’s Walking to Wellness Program January – April 2007 Educate employees on health benefits of walking Hand out pedometers and walk logs Host walks before or after work 2 – 3 times per week Offer prizes and incentives for employees who walk 10,000 steps a day


Health Benefits of Walking : Health Benefits of Walking Walking for one hour a day has been shown to decrease your chance of the following diseases: Heart disease by 30 – 40% Stroke Breast cancer by 20% Diabetes by 50% Colon cancer www.about.com


Health Benefits of Walking : Health Benefits of Walking Set a goal for yourself of 10,000 steps a day “A University of Tennessee in Knoxville study with pedometers revealed women who averaged more than 10,000 steps a day had 40% less body fat and waist and him measurements that were four to six inches narrower than those who averaged fewer than 6,000 steps.” Los Angeles Times, May 17, 2004


Wear a Pedometer or Fitness Monitor : 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 : Getting More Steps in Your Day Keep an extra pair of walking shoes in your car or at work Arrive at work early or stay late to walk the halls or outside Park at the farthest (but safe) spot at the grocery store, drugstore, work Take the stairs Stuck at the aiport? Grab a luggage cart and walk the terminals Walk with your family at the end of the day


Offer Fun Incentives : Offer Fun Incentives Gift certificate to sporting goods store/shoe store Water bottle, gym bag Radio, MP3 player Studies have shown that women listen to music while walking burn more calories Gym subscription Cooking Light magazine subscription Spa products


Case Study: Ascolta : Case Study: Ascolta Technology consulting firm of 50 people WalkStyles DashTraks and DashTrak Wellness Subscriptions given by CEO Encouraged friendly competition between departments Employees challenged each other; check up on each other’s progress throughout the day


Case Study: Merit Property Mangement : Case Study: Merit Property Mangement Large home owners association (HOA) group Some employees have office jobs; others work the field DashTraks plus Subscription offered to employees Monthly Lunch ‘n Learns on different wellness topics


For More Information : For More Information Questions, comments: Sue Parks sue.parks@walkstyles.com www.walkstyles.com


Enjoy the Benefits of a Happy, Healthy Workforce! : Enjoy the Benefits of a Happy, Healthy Workforce! Thank you!