The following is extracted from an article in The Daily Breeze, Saturday, February 19, 2011, page 1. To read the full article click here
From setting up wellness centers to bringing in nutritionists to holding office workouts and weight challenges, local companies are taking an aggressive role in helping their employees slim down, quit smoking and eat healthier. companies see this as a way to invest in their employees," said Kimberly Kierman, director of health and wellness strategies for United HealthCare, who helps companies establish such programs. "They are finding that not only does (better health of workers) lower health care costs, but leads to less absenteeism, more productivity and improved morale."
At Ducommun, a Carson aerospace company, workers last year were invited to organize into teams and compete to see which could lose the greatest percentage of body weight. Roughly 650 of the company's 2,000 workers participated in the 90-day challenge.
"It was very well-received," said Rose Rogers, vice president of human resources. In all, the workers lost a combined 4,745 pounds - equal to the weight of a baby elephant, a picture of which the company put in the office to celebrate the feat.
This month, Ducommun is kicking off a walking challenge, doling out pedometers and tally sheets to employees, who will count steps for more prizes. The company is also offering on-site health screenings and stress management programs.
In 2009, 58 percent all companies offered at least one type of program. Last year, 74 percent of companies offered these programs. Most of the programs are strictly voluntary, however; just 10 percent of the firms that offer wellness programs tie incentives to participation.
The ultimate goal is to reduce the rate of chronic disease, which accounted for three-quarters of the $2.6 trillion spent on health care in the United States in 2009. Chronic disease includes ongoing and often controllable conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In Los Angeles County, 34 percent of all residents suffer from at least one chronic condition, according to the 2009 California Health Interview Survey.
It is no surprise that as the rate of chronic conditions has risen, so have health care costs. In 2000, the average premium for a worker with a family plan was $6,438 a year, with the employee contributing $1,619, Kaiser found. In 2010, the average family premium was $13,770, with the worker contributing $3,997.
Despite steep increases in the cost of insurance, it is still the most affordable option for most families. Roughly half of all residents under 65 in the South Bay region are covered by employer-based insurance, the 2009 health interview survey showed.
Next month, the Healthways-Blue Zone Vitality City project will begin encouraging all businesses in the South Bay beach cities to enroll in a program that will offer a number of health improvement tools to lower costs and improve health of workers.
This includes an "environmental assessment people can do at the work site, to improve the health environment," said Joel Spoonheim, director of the local project.
The outreach to businesses is part of the larger Vitality City project, a three-year health makeover planned for Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Businesses will be able to participate for free, with funding coming from the company and the Beach Cities Health District.
"We recognize that we can do all we can do in the workplace, but once (workers) leave, they go home, they go to restaurants and all sorts of places where healthy choices are not readily available," Spoonheim said.
"In order to make real changes, you really have to impact social networks, friendships and other areas of daily life. ... The work site is a good place to start, and we're hoping to have an impact there to improve well-being."
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