Building a Culture of Health

Lowers the risk of stroke by 27%, reduces the reduces incidence of diabetes by approximately 50%, can reduce the mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer by approximately 50%, reduces the incidence of high blood pressure by approximately 40%, can lower risk of colon cancer by 60%, can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 40%, may be as effective in managing depression as Prozac or behavioral therapy.

 

Sounds like a marketing pitch for  the most recently discovered super berry from the jungles of South America. No, but as you have probably guessed by now, they are, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, the benefits of regular, moderate exercise. The fact that exercise in beneficial will obviously come as no surprise. The fact that the benefits are so powerful for so many things continues to surprise even me. And the benefits continue to grow.

 

Studies at Appalachian State University in North Carolina found that those who walked briskly for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week, over a 12 to 15 week period had fewer and less severe upper respiratory infections, and had 25% to 50% fewer sick days than non exercisers.   Dr. David Neinman, director of App State’s Human Performance Lab commented that “No pill or nutritional supplement has the power of near daily moderate activity in lowering the number of sick days people take”.  

 

Not only is this important to you individually but it has tremendous  implications for employers. Encouraging employees to exercise and take other steps to improve their health, not only shows a commitment to their wellbeing, it is just good business. But encouragement may not be good enough, employees may need advice on how to get started  and even incentives to motivate them to exercise regularly and practice other healthy behaviors.

 

Over the past 30 plus years we have helped thousands of individuals manage their weight, improve their fitness and their overall health.   We are now in position  to help companies do the same thing for their employees.  If you are interested in starting a Wellness Program at your company contact Cheney Maddox at cmaddox@hhhealth.com for more information on our program.

 

Source: Wall Street Journal article, The Hidden Benefits of Exercise