The Case for Workplace Wellness
| The amount of research and evidence that builds a strong business case for workplace wellness as a necessity in business, not a “nice to have” program or a “perk,” continues to grow. Research aside, its common sense. Employees who don’t feel well, have less than optimal energy, are stressed, tired, or distracted by pain, or you have an injury or an illness are certainly NOT going to be as productive or effective as they would be if they were more healthy and pain-free. Below are a number of articles that support workplace wellness and how these programs, when built into the overall corporate strategy, have a significant impact on the bottom line on your business and the productivity and effectiveness of your employees! |
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Study Examines Economic Burden of Providing Health Care On Businesses
April 7, 2008
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/102958.php
Study Links Low Physical Activity Levels to Increased Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Adolescence
April 8, 2008 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/features/digest.jsp?id=7581&pid=1138&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI
Study: Fruits, veggies could reduce heart attacks, strokes
April 15, 2008
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-15-heart-diet_N.htm
Mid-life high cholesterol raises Alzheimer's risk
April 17, 2008
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1643875020080417
Report: Obesity Costing Firms $45B a Year in Work Loss, Medical Costs
April 10, 2008
Insurance Journal
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/04/10/89022.htm
Aerobic Exercise Boosts Older Bodies and Minds, Review Suggests
April 17, 2008
Health Behavior News Service
http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1699
Weight loss helps cut health-care costs
April 20, 2008
The Cincinnati Enquirer
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080420/NEWS01/304200006/-1/back01
APPLE campaign takes a bite out of child obesity
April 28, 2008
Edmonton Journal
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=85625c8a-2924-44ec-81ee-b09ea01acc68&k=38916
Low Levels Of Physical Activity And High Levels Of Obesity Found In Cancer Survivors
April 22, 2008
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/104865.php
Schools that cut fat and sugar saw dramatic results
April 22, 2008
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080422.wlcafeteria22/BNStory/lifeFamily/home
Moderately To Severely Obese Elderly Run Significant Risk Of Disability And Dependence On Long-Term Care Services, Finds Study Presented At AGS
April 23, 2008
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105051.php
Penalties proposed to encourage wellness take-up
May 2008
Health Insurance and Protection Magazine
http://www.hi-mag.com/healthinsurance/article.do?articleid=20001675166
You Name It, and Exercise Helps It
April 29, 2008
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/health/29brod.html?ei=5087&em=&en=9fc8b735b03084dd&ex=1210132800&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1210009717-YtMk5FYkSMy+kCYVGMwKog
Diet, exercise changes cut diabetes risk factors
April 15, 2008
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL56624520080415
Exercise Combats Cancer-Related Fatigue
April 15, 2008
Health Behavior News Service
http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1688
US eats 5 times more than India per capita
May 4, 2008
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/US_eats_5_times_more_than_India_per_capita/articleshow/3008449.cms
Report: 10M children die from lack of health care every year
May 6, 2008
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-05-06-child-health_N.htm
Study Supports Reason For Concern In Childhood And Adolescent Obesity
May 11, 2008
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107006.php
Obesity Threatens a Generation
May 17, 2008 The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/05/09/ST2008050900425.html?sid=ST2008050900425
Young Lives at Risk: Buy Better Groceries
May 2008
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/health/childhoodobesity/store/
Hint of Hope as Child Obesity Rate Hits Plateau
May 28, 2008
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/health/research/28obesity.html?ref=health
America's Most Unhealthy Drinks Exposed
June 3, 2008
The Consumerist
http://consumerist.com/tag/unhealthy-drinks/?i=5012609&t=americas-most-unhealthy-drinks-exposed
Connection Between Obesity And Depression
June 3, 2008
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/109653.php
Obesity Is The Public Health Equivalent Of Climate Change
June 4, 2008
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/109939.php
Research Finds Wide Disparities in Health Care by Race and Region
June 5, 2008
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/health/research/05disparities.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Study Finds State Gains in Insurance
June 3, 2008
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/health/policy/03health.html?ref=health
Can exercise help prevent addiction?
June 9, 2008
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-06-09-exercise-addiction_N.htm
Obese have heftier medical bills despite shortened lives
June 10, 2008
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2008-06-09-obese-medical-costs_N.htm
Ranks of underinsured U.S. adults increase 60%
June 10, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/10/BUD1114PTO.DTL
Stress over debt taking toll on health
June 9, 2008
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-06-09-debt-stress_N.htm
Ranks of Underinsured Are Rising, Study Finds
June 10, 2008
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/health/policy/10health.html?ref=policy
How America's Children Packed On the Pounds
June 12, 2008
Time
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1813700,00.html
Wellness plan can have big return on investment
June 16, 2008
Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-smallbiz-herlzlich-0616-jun16,0,3965718.story
Study: Health costs to rise nearly 10 percent
June 17, 2008
Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-EknB11VOdN8QeH_pALVKfRLLTAD91BPPA00
Fed Chief Addresses Health Care and Its Costs
June 17, 2008
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/health/policy/17health.html?_r=2&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
On-the-Job Weight Loss: Worksite Programs Work
June 30, 2008
Health Behavior News Service
http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1730
AHA Calls for Population-Based Strategy to Reduce U.S. Obesity Rates
July 1, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/features/digest.jsp?id=8106&pid=1138&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI
Questioning Government Guidelines For Childhood Physical Activity And The Association With Childhood Obesity
July 3, 2008
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113762.php
Prevention Activities Could Increase Lifespan of U.S. Adults
July 7, 2008
American Heart Association
http://www.diabetes.org/for-media/prevention-activities-could-increase-lifespan-adults.jsp
CDC Launches National Campaign to Improve Americans' Health
July 8, 2008
USA Today
http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/digest.jsp?id=8150
Health in the workplace: Bribes and blackmail
July 10, 2008
USA Today
http://blogs.usatoday.com/betterlife/2008/07/does-your-emplo.html
Helping children fight fat: Guest commentary By James O. Hill
July 16, 2008
Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_9901380
More Americans obese, government finds
July 17, 2008
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1748843320080717
U.S. still flunks healthcare test, group says
July 17, 2008
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1747974920080717?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=10179
New Report: Investment in Disease Prevention Could Save America More than $16 Billion in Five Years
July 17, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=32831&c=EMC-ADV
Legislators Seek to Encourage Employers to Promote Worksite Wellness
August 4, 2008
Occupational Health Safety
http://www.ohsonline.com/articles/66081/
NACo launches Healthy Counties Database
July 2008
The National Association of Counties
www.healthycounties.org/database
What's making us fat?
July 14, 2008
Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-theoryintro14-2008jul14%2C0%2C5684538.story
Fit kids got game
July 23, 2008
Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9964598
Wellness' a healthy investment for company
July 25, 2008
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/07/25/fn.healthy.company/index.html
Leaders nip, tuck healthcare policy
August 11, 2008
The Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2008/08/11/leaders_nip_tuck_healthcare_policy/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Health+news
Business Plays Role in Obesity Crisis
August 11, 2008
Miami Herald
http://shapingamericashealth.org/myhealth/getthefacts/news/familiesnews223.html
High Medical Costs are Weighing Heavily on Both the Insured and Uninsured
August 20, 2008
Washington Post
http://www.rwjf.org/coverage/digest.jsp?id=8458&c=EMC-ND132
Survey Predicts Health Costs Will Rise 5.7 Percent in 2009
September 4, 2008
Associated Press
http://www.rwjf.org/coverage/digest.jsp?id=8548&c=EMC-ND132
Wellness Tax Credit
US Corporate Wellness
http://www.wellnesstaxcredit.com/Welcome.html
Study: More employers offering wellness-program incentives
September 15, 2008
The Central New York Business Journal
http://www.cnybj.com/index.php?id=396&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=8834&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1&cHash=f9715be96e
American Heart Association Announces Start! Fit-Friendly Companies
September 16, 2008
PRNewswire
http://sev.prnewswire.com/health-care-hospitals/20080916/NYTU05916092008-1.html
America's healthiest schools ranked
September 24, 2008
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/09/24/healthy.schools/index.html
Health-care costs to rise in '09
September 25, 2008
Akron Beacon Journal
http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/29731804.html
Consumers Cut Health Spending, As Economic Downturn Takes Toll
September 22, 2008
Wall Street Journal
http://reno.wsj.com/article/SB122204987056661845.html
New Database Tracks Prevalence of Chronic Conditions by Location
September 18, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/digest.jsp?id=8618&c=EMC-ND141
University of Tennessee to Study Parents' Role in Reducing Childhood Obesity
September 30, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=8667&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI
Burlington, Vt., is healthiest city, CDC says
November 16, 2008
The Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081116/ap_on_he_me/med_healthiest_city
Community-Based Wellness Initiatives Effective in Preventing Illness, Study Finds
November 17, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/digest.jsp?id=8981&c=EMC-ND141
U.S. health spending hits $2.2 trillion in 2007
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5050S020090106
A Governor With No Money Seeks to Improve the People’s Health
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/nyregion/11health.html?_r=2&ref=health
Top 25 fittest and fattest cities in the U.S.
January 26, 2009
Yahoo.com
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/top-25-fittest-and-fattest-cities-in-the-u-s-351934/
U.S. school children need less work, more play: study
January 26, 2009
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE50P0PK20090126
Reuters Examines Obesity, Health Care Reform
January 26, 2009
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/136588.php
Mayo, General Mills make it onto Fortune best places to work list
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/01/19/daily42.html
Wellness programs key to surviving economy
February 2, 2009
Lawrence Journal World
http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/health_beat/2009/feb/02/wellness-programs-key-to-surviving-economy/
Health Advocate Releases Obesity White Paper: Strategies And Programs To Reduce Obesity In The Workplace
February 3, 2009
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/137551.php
For Uninsured Young Adults, Do-It-Yourself Health Care
February 17, 2009
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/nyregion/18insure.html?_r=2&hp
Additional Resources:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB124476804026308603-lMyQjAxMDI5NDE0MjcxNjI4Wj.html
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_chs_2009SurveyHealthConsumers_March2009.pdf
http://newsblaze.com/story/2009031207030200027.pnw/topstory.html
http://www.emory.edu/policysolutions/pdfs/kenneththorpe_testimony_0208.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/fitness-obesity/
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/pp/COPAN/resourcekits/WorksiteWEllnessResourceKit.pdf
http://fitnessbusinesspro.com/universities/childhood-obesity-battle-200903/
http://www.orangelaces.com/site/index/what_we_do
http://fitnessbusinesspro.com/studies/group-treatment-helps-rural-childhood-obesity-1223/index.html
http://www.childrenshealthfoundation.net/PDF/CHF-The-State-of-Nutrition-and-Physical-Activity-in-Colorado-Schools.pdf
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/07/25/fn.healthy.company/index.html
http://www.fitnessworksatwork.com/corporate-wellness-statistics.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4070/is_220/ai_n16808828/
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/specials/best_councils/article4804105.ece
