Here’s the workout for this week…
Here’s this week’s Track workout for those serious athletes who take employee wellness (www.uscorporatewellness.com) seriously…
The following are highlighted employee wellness (www.uscorporatewellness.com) features are compliments of Michele Baker…
Minnesota Blue Cross and Blue Shield launches “healthy eating” campaign
November 7, 2008
Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/11/03/daily47.html
State panel unveils new plan to combat obesity, diabetes
November 9, 2008
The Associated Press
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/2262633-35/story.csp
Anti-obesity drive to use shock tactics
November 9, 2008
The Sunday Times, London
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5114359.ece
‘Healthy towns’ to fight obesity
November 10, 2008
Guardian UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/nov/10/obesity-healthy-towns1
Commerce City receives Healthiest Community Award
November 12, 2008
http://denver.yourhub.com/CommerceCity/Stories/News/Government/Story~547127.aspx
Low-Income Coloradans Most Likely to Suffer from Obesity-Related Diseases
Obesity directly linked to income and education
November 12, 2008
The Colorado Health Foundation
http://www.coloradohealth.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=3310
NFL Network Launches Initiative to Promote P.E. in Schools
November 13, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=8957&c=EMC-ND138
U.S. menu labeling may be gaining steam
November 14, 2008
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4AE0RY20081115
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
Study: Ban on fast-food TV ads may cut obesity
November 20, 2008
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2008-11-20-ads-obesity_N.htm
Here’s this week’s Track workout for those serious athletes who take employee wellness (www.uscorporatewellness.com) seriously…
Can an effective employee wellness program (www.uscorporatewellness.com) actually impact one of the infamous “7 Deadly Sins?” Interesting to at least consider, isn’t it?
This morning, I was listening to a speaker (via podcast) while out for a run and he touched on the 7 Deadly Sins, specifically Slothfulness. He reminded us that they were termed as such not because they were unforgiveable. Rather, they were given this title due to the fact that they produced very negative outcomes both for the individual AND those around him.
Interesting, isn’t it? In this country, the cost of slothfulness has lead to out of control health care costs, now accounting for approximately 16% of the GDP, which means we’re all paying the price financially. But it doesn’t stop there. Shorter lifespans, diminished ability to participate in activities and more influence the lives of those around us, ranging from good friends to co-workers and children/grand children.
Interestingly, most people WANT to make changes. They just need the right encouragement, tools and resources to make it happen. Let’s start moving in the right direction - at least when it comes to this one of the seven!
If you’re looking for the latest news around employee wellness programs (www.uscorporatewellness.com) and more, you’ve come to the right place. The following covers feature news items from the past week, thanks to Michele Baker:
Johnson & Johnson Establishes Wellness & Prevention Platform with Acquisition of HealthMedia, Inc.
October 27, 2008
MarketWatch
Workplace Health Programs Effective Interventions
October 30, 2008
HealthDay
Souring Economy, Rising Food Prices Could Exacerbate Obesity Epidemic, Experts Warn
October 31, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=8879&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI
Scientists Develop New Strategy to Fight Obesity
October 31, 2008
HealthDay
Rate of New Diabetes Diagnoses Nearly Doubled Over the Last Decade, CDC Says
October 31, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/digest.jsp?id=8883&c=EMC-ND141
Extra-Nutritious Bioengineered Foods Still Years Away
November 3, 2008
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/02/AR2008110201939.html
Money Is Tight, and Junk Food Beckons
November 3, 2008
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/health/nutrition/04well.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin
Federal Healthy Snack Program Expands Reach to Encourage Produce Consumption
November 3, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=8886&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI
Kids mimic parents’ diets from an early age
November 4, 2008
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4A26J920081104
The Organizational Benefits of Employee Health Promotion Programs
November 4, 2008
The American Chronicle
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/74618
Councils help schools promote wellness
November 6, 2008
Clinton News
http://www.clintonnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081106/NEWS/811060332/1001/NEWS
Parks can cut health gap between rich and poor
November 7, 2008
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4A605D20081107
We’ll continue our pattern of hitting both the longer, tempo-like distances in combination with the shorter, faster intervals within the same workout (note bonus workout down below if your base is adequate)…
BONUS Workout - before doing the above, run a warm-up and then 4 x 10 min intervals at 5+ seconds faster/mile than marathon race pace. Take 3 min jog in between each
This one shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone - but the research now makes it official…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Parents who want their preschoolers to eat their vegetables may need to take a hard look at their own eating habits, new research suggests.
In a study of 120 young children who were allowed to “buy” food from a play grocery store, researchers found that even 2-year-olds tended to mirror their parents’ usual food choices.
Children who stocked up on sweets, sugary drinks and salty snacks generally had parents whose typical grocery list featured such items. Similarly, children with the healthiest shopping habits seemed to be following their parents’ lead as well.
The findings, reported in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, suggest that even very young children do not indiscriminately reach for candy when given the chance. Instead, they seem to already be forming food preferences — potentially lasting ones — based on their parents’ shopping carts.
“The data suggest that children begin to assimilate and mimic their parents’ food choices at a very young age, even before they are able to fully appreciate the implications of these choices,” write the researchers, led by Dr. Lisa A. Sutherland of Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
That, the researchers say, means that the grocery store can be like a classroom, where parents teach their children that foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains take priority over snacks and desserts.
For the study, Sutherland’s team had 120 children aged 2 to 6 years old each take a turn in a play grocery store. The children were told they could buy anything they wanted out of 133 items: “healthier” foods included fruits, vegetables, whole-grain cereals, bread and milk; “less healthy” items included desserts, candy, potato chips, soda and sugary cereals.
Parents completed questionnaires on how often they bought specific foods and beverages. All said they brought their children with them on grocery store trips.
Most of the children, the researchers found, bought some sugary, salty treats; on average, their carts were filled with equal parts healthy and unhealthy items.
However, 35 children bought significantly more healthy fare than junk food. In general, the study found, the health-consciousness of a child’s shopping cart mirrored that of her parents’ grocery list.
“Nutrition interventions for children most often begin with school-aged children,” Sutherland and her colleagues write. “This study suggests that preschool children are already forming food preferences and are attentive to food choices made by their parents.”
Giving preschoolers a taste for healthy foods, the researchers add, could ultimately make it easier for them to keep up a lifetime of smart eating.
SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, November 2008.
Here are the latest Wellness Industry Articles, news and Links from Michele Baker:
A ‘Farmer-in-Chief?’ — Time’s Never Been Riper
October 26, 2008
Ultimate chill pill is a good workout
October 26, 2008
The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/fitness/ci_10819807
Laws help limit use of wellness program data
October 28, 2008
Associated Press
Erie Times: Funds available to develop stores
October 29, 2008
The Food Trust
http://www.thefoodtrust.org/php/press/news_detail.php?id=84
Green Space Has Long-Term Positive Effect on Children’s Weight, Study Says
October 29, 2008
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=8848&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI
Colorado Makes Fitness Magazine ‘Fit 50’ List
October 30, 2008
Cherry Creek News
http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/3461/2/
Vigorous exercise protects against breast cancer
October 30, 2008
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE49U04X20081031
Obesity blamed for doubling rate of diabetes cases
October 30, 2008
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-30-diabetes-obesity_N.htm