| Strategies to improve employee and population health |  |
| Wellness Programs & Trends |  |  |
|
- Lafarge builds its wellness program piece by piece
Building-materials supplier Lafarge North America began its "Building a Better You" wellness campaign to tackle an obese and aging workforce that internal data showed was not participating in annual visits for preventive care. It spent the first two years just raising awareness of the program, then added incentives to help change employee behaviors. In 2011 it started a unique outreach plan by producing a reality show with celebrity doctor Michael Roizen. Employee Benefit News
(11/1)     
| Fitness | | |
|
- "The Biggest Loser" may negatively affect views on exercise
College students who watched a seven-minute clip of the TV show "The Biggest Loser" showed worse attitudes toward exercise compared with those who watched an "American Idol" clip, results that were consistent regardless of the students' exercise levels, a study found. The findings suggest that shows such as "The Biggest Loser" may discourage people from exercising, rather than motivate them, researchers said. The results will appear in the American Journal of Health Behavior. HealthDay News
(10/30)
| Health News & Research | | |
|
- Older women may have worsening depression, study says
About 20% of women 65 and older have persistently high or increasing symptoms of depression as they age, according to a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Data showed women with severe depression also were more likely to have diabetes, obesity, heart attack and physical disabilities than women with few depression symptoms. Medscape (free registration)
(10/30)
- Sugary drinks raise stroke risk in women, study says
Women who consumed soft drinks and other sweetened beverages almost every day had an 83% higher risk of stroke than women who never or rarely drank sugary beverages, according to a study of nearly 40,000 people in Japan. The study failed to find a link between sugary drinks and stroke risk in men. The findings were published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Reuters
(10/30)
- Analysis links mortality risk with added weight after diabetes
Weight gain in the first year following a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, according to a Swedish study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting. Data on about 8,500 patients showed that the rates of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were 63% and 34% higher, respectively, in patients who gained weight compared with those who didn't gain weight. Family Practice News
(10/30)
- Boys have higher risk of long-term OTC drug abuse
Both male and female junior high school students surveyed in Cincinnati had high rates of over-the-counter drug abuse, but males were more prone to long-term abuse, U.S. researchers found. They noted that involvement in positive activities such as sports or school clubs was associated with a lower risk of OTC drug abuse. The study was presented at the American Public Health Association meeting. HealthDay News
(10/31)
| Schools & Community | | |
|
- Detroit hospital staff, students take "Say No To Soda" pledge
Detroit students and staff at Sinai-Grace Hospital have launched the "Say No To Soda" pledge, a monthlong campaign to raise awareness of the extra sugar and calories in soft drinks. William Price of the Detroit school district's Office of Nutrition said the pledge is part of a commitment to teaching students about healthy living, which also includes school-garden programs, healthier lunch menus and a ban on sodas in vending machines and cafeterias. WWJ-TV/WWJ-AM (Detroit)
(10/31), The Detroit News
(11/1)
| Wellness Industry Developments | | |
|
| AHIP News | | |
|
-
Fall Forum workshop: Promoting wellness and consumer loyalty
What are the best ways to reach consumers and motivate them to focus on healthier lifestyles? What role do social media play? How can you best strengthen relationships with your members? Answer to these questions and more will be answered at the opening workshop at AHIP’s Fall Forum. Get details and register.
-
Affiliate Organization Membership—your connection to health plans
Health plans are looking for companies with innovative products and services as they focus on high-quality, cost-effective care for their members. Becoming an AHIP Affiliate Organization Member is an ideal way to connect with these plans. Get details and contact a member of AHIP’s Business Development Team at BusinessDevelopment@ahip.org to learn more.
| SmartQuote | | |
|
 | Nature does not equally distribute energy. Some people are born old and tired while others are going strong at 70."
--Dorothy Thompson,
American journalist and radio broadcaster
|
| |
|
| |
| AHIP Team |
Managing Editor, Online Publishing:
Yvonne Chanatry
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
| | Recent AHIP Wellness SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, October 31, 2012
- Tuesday, October 30, 2012
- Monday, October 29, 2012
- Friday, October 26, 2012
- Thursday, October 25, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Kathryn Doherty
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
| |
|
© 1999-2012 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information
Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do
not reflect actual AHIP endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not
necessarily reflect the official position of AHIP.
|
|
