Worksite wellness isn’t just a healthy idea; it’s an opportunity in Richland County.
Richland Public Health’s Health Promotion and Education Division organized a free worksite wellness “lunch and learn” on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The event was well-attended by a diverse group of local business representatives who heard tips on how to institute a wellness program or improve an existing one in the work place.
“We know that here in Richland County we have very, very high rates of obesity in our adult and children population and with that comes a lot of disease: heart disease, diabetes, pre-diabetes, stroke, cancer, a lot of things that are related to those high rates of obesity,” Karyl Price, health educator and coordinator of the Creating Healthy Communities Project said.
“Healthy eating and physical activities are solid strategies that can combat that. We also know that besides asking somebody to eat healthy and make good choices, we also need to support them in making those good choices. People can’t make choices unless those choices exist for them,” she added.
Health Educator Kim Calhoon has been with the health department since February and oversees the Richland County Employee Wellness Program. She has trained with a program called Work@Health from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This is the third year for the program but the first year Richland County has participated.
“Work@Health is an evidence-based worksite wellness program and it provides participating employers with the tools and resources needed to have a sustainable evidence-based wellness program. What is evidence-based? It means the results of your program can be measured and Work@Health provides the tools to learn how to make those measurements,” Calhoon said.
And the good news is that it’s free.
Why would a company want to have a worksite wellness program?
A worksite wellness program enables companies to save money on insurance and pass those savings on to employees, Calhoon said. She said it also allows a company to stand out as a great place to work and lowers absenteeism, as well as improves employees’ performance at work.
The program is available to a limited number of participating, qualifying businesses and attendees at the lunch were sent a follow-up survey to determine their eligibility. But information was also provided during the lunch that could inspire and benefit all businesses pursuing worksite wellness activities.
Some of those ideas included incorporating wellness into a company’s mission statement, providing healthy vending, creating policies for tobacco-free campuses and providing employees with walking maps for 15 minute walk breaks.
Advocating for water as a beverage choice was one of the topics.
Price talked about the “Water First for Thirst” campaign, an initiative instituted by the Columbus public health department.
“We know that sugary beverages can be anything from Capri Sun, for a youth drink, all the way up to coffee drinks and soda. They have so much added sugar that they contribute to unhealthy, non-nutritious calories. It’s one of the rising sources of our calories,” Price said.
The “Water First” message encourages and promotes drinking water. Ideas for businesses include vending water bottles, providing water at business meetings and lunches, and educating employees.
Price demonstrated the impact soda beverages have in dietary choices, including a demonstration that Dr. Pepper, for example, has 64 grams of sugar or 16 teaspoons of sugar in a 20 ounce bottle.
The lunch group also heard from Health Educator/RN Margaret Lin about diabetes and prediabetes symptoms. Symptoms can include excessive thirst, tiredness, weight gain/loss, blindness, nerve damage, kidney failure, poor circulation, and more.
“The average employee usually spends about $5,000 a year in medical costs. A person with diabetes spends about $15,000 a year,” Lin said. She further noted that approximately one-third of the population is at risk for prediabetes.
However, a diabetes prevention program can cut the risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent. A Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) can help lower the diabetes risk by teaching improved food choices and promoting increased physical activity.
OhioHealth MedCentral Hospital, at 419-522-2734, can help interested participants find out how to enroll in a National Diabetes Prevention Program.
Participants learn the skills needed to make lasting lifestyle changes, including learning to eat healthy and adding physical activity to their routine.
Melissa Culler was the last to speak and began with a startling statement.
“Sitting is the new smoking,” Culler said.
She learned that recently and thought, “‘Wow; that hit me: I sit the majority of time at work.’ And I’m guessing a lot of you and your employees do as well.”
People who spend a hours sitting are more likely to get heart disease and diabetes and other chronic conditions, but Richland Public Health is committed to doing something to reduce that threat. One suggestion Culler sited was adding a standing work station to the work site.
She also suggested walking or biking to work or adding a DeskCyCle that enables employees to pedal while working at their desk.
For more information contact the Richland Public Health educators at 419-774-4500 and visit their website.
