Wellness Plans : Wellness Programs – Focus on Nutrition Programs.

Advantages of Nutrition Programs

Nutrition directly impacts almost every aspect of physical and psychological health. A healthful diet can help protect against such conditions as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, certain cancers and depression. Obesity, which is one of the most common conditions linked to diet, affects a record number of Americans.

The American Journal of Health Promotion estimates the cost of obesity to U.S. organization to exceed $12.5 billion in health care, sick time, and life and disability insurance.

Further, one study reports that obesity raises health care costs by 36% and medication costs by 77%.  To offset the health risks of obesity and poor diet, many organizations have committed to assisting staff members ensure proper nutrition and undertake weight control programs.

Well-liked nutrition programs –  

• Provide workers with educational materials or courses on proper nutrition provided by a registered dietitian.

• Make available on-site Weight Watchers meetings or other weight control programs.

• Provide nutritious and health conscience meal options in the cafeteria and vending machines.

• Clearly post nutrition information for all cafeteria and vending machine items.

• Give low cost, healthful, take-home dinner choices for workforce and their families.

• Draw attention to healthy eating habits by providing token incentives, like pencils or ID holders, for achieving five fruits or vegetable servings a day for a week.

Nutrition programs in action

While many corporations address weight management through fitness programs, corporations are increasingly focusing on nutrition through separate programming. Recognizing the productivity increase and lowered medical expenditures that come with maintaining a healthful weight, many corporations may help pay for obesity treatments for staff.

For example, to improve the health of dangerously obese staff, drug maker Wyeth reportedly compensates for stomach-shrinking surgeries that carry price tags of up to $40,000.

A 2003 Society of Human Resource (HR) Management study shows that 24 percent of corporations offer losing weight programs. In Ohio, Honda offers an onsite, registered dietitian who provides individual or group consultations on weight control. Body fat analysis and Body Mass Index  measurements are available to employees at any time.

At Grange Insurance’s Columbus headquarters, the cafeteria chef assesses meals and provides workforce basic nutrition information, including Weight Watchers points.

Many businesses partner with the American Cancer Society to offer nutrition information through the “5-ADay” program, which provides employers free signage and educational materials about the importance of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

The program also offers a fruit and vegetable “frequency card” that gives personnel a free portion of fruit or vegetables after he or she has purchased a preset number.