| Strategies to improve employee and population health |  |
| Wellness Programs & Trends |  |  |
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- Wellness begins with good communication, experts say
Communicating a corporate wellness message can be challenging, but company leaders have a big influence on employee buy-in, Towers Watson benefits consultant Katherine Sullivan told a "Be Fit Fairfield County" meeting. Walter Watson of Stew Leonard’s grocery store chain in Norwalk, Conn., said the company continually communicates with employees using a variety of methods and after about eight years of running a wellness program to prevent cost increases, in 2011 it saw a 1% decrease in health costs. Norwalk Citizen (Conn.)
(12/3)     
- Ohio bank uses tracking program to encourage walking
Advantage Bank of Cambridge, Ohio, uses tracking software and pedometers from Walkingspree to engage employees in a walking program to improve their health. The company offers incentives for participation and so far, 131 of 139 participants have averaged more than 6,000 steps per day, and the remaining eight have averaged at least 5,000 steps. Health Data Management
(12/3)
 | Build a Brand They’ll Love
To drive employee participation in your employee health and wellness strategy, it’s important to select the right branding approach. Discover the merits and best practices of three branding approaches for your wellness benefits – using your existing corporate brand, creating a sub-brand for your programs, or taking advantage of a third party’s brand. Download now. |
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| Fitness | |  |
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| Health News & Research | | |
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- CDC warns of early, severe flu season
CDC officials announced Monday that the 2012-13 flu season has started nearly a month earlier than expected, with influenza A(H3N2) being this year's dominant strain, and they said this could be a bad year for flu. However, the influenza vaccine this year is a 90% match for the samples examined by the agency, officials said. "My advice is: Get the vaccine now," said infectious diseases specialist Dr. James Steinberg of Emory University. The Boston Globe/The Associated Press (tiered subscription model)
(12/4), Family Practice News
(12/3)
- Diet can reduce risk of cardiac events, study says
A study on the website of the journal Circulation says eating a heart-healthy diet can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke for those with heart disease. Samantha Heller of the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Connecticut says many people with heart disease mistakenly believe medications will solve their problems, so they have a "false sense of protection and security." HealthDay News
(12/3)
- Adequate vitamin D may protect women from mental decline
Two studies in the Journal of Gerontology showed a significant link between vitamin D intake and women's cognitive health. Women with low vitamin D levels were more at risk for cognitive decline compared with those who had enough vitamin D, according to one study. Meanwhile, French researchers found that women with Alzheimer's disease were more likely to have had low vitamin D intake than women who didn't develop the disease. MedicalDaily.com
(12/3)
- Study suggests link between pesticides, food allergies
Study data show that people with food sensitivities had higher urine levels of dichlorophenols, which are used to make pesticides and are found in tap water, according to research from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. While the study does not conclude that pesticides cause food allergies, experts said, it raises the question and shows the need for more research. HealthDay News
(12/3)
| Schools & Community | | |
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- Miss. high-school obesity rate falls
Mississippi Health Department officials found that the state's high-school obesity rate declined from 18.1% in 2009 to 16.5% in 2011. "We are very encouraged to see this decline in obesity rates among our high-school students. Although the change from two years ago is not statistically significant, it's the first time in 10 years we have seen any decline at all in Mississippi's adolescent obesity rate," State Health Officer Dr. Mary Currier said. The Sun Herald (Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss.)/The Associated Press
(12/1)
| Wellness Industry Developments | | |
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| AHIP News | | |
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Understanding ACOs
Accountable care organizations have become ever more popular with health care reform implementation and the desire to improve the value, efficiency, and quality of care to health plan members. Learn about ACOs - from a historical perspective to their future impact on delivery and payment reforms -- by registering for AHIP's new online course. Get course details.
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Seeking candidates familiar with health insurance?
AHIP's three "SmartBrief" Job Boards focus exclusively on the health insurance industry. Our Job Boards are an effective way to reach top professionals who stay informed about health insurance by opting-in to receive our daily e-newsletters. Get more information and post your job openings.
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | It is astonishing what force, purity and wisdom it requires for a human being to keep clear of falsehoods."
--Margaret Fuller,
American journalist and women's rights activist
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| AHIP Solutions Team |
Managing Editor, Online Publishing:
Yvonne Chanatry
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| | Recent AHIP Wellness SmartBrief Issues:
- Monday, December 03, 2012
- Friday, November 30, 2012
- Thursday, November 29, 2012
- Wednesday, November 28, 2012
- Tuesday, November 27, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Kathryn Doherty
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
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© 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.
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