Family-Centered Employee Wellness Program Taps Parental Influence on Child Physical Activity

Aug. 8, 2012 - PRLog -- A recent study (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120730170343.htm) found children significantly increased daily steps along with parents — especially on weekends.  (Interestingly, the positive effect was short-lived; researchers report the parents’ current day activity had the strongest influence, with previous day and previous week activity showing a weaker effect.)

The bottom line? Parents who adopt a daily exercise habit help kids get and stay active — a key priority in light of rising child obesity and type 2 diabetes rates.
All In (http://www.hesonline.com/allin), the newest innovative corporate health promotion program from Health Enhancement Systems (www.healthenhancementsystems.com), gets the whole family working together to adopt simple everyday behaviors — like physical activity — that reduce risks and improve well-being for everyone.

Dependents’ healthcare costs are soaring, right along with employees’ — at 14.7% of a large employer’s typical health care costs for children and teens, not counting the productivity loss for working parents of sick/injured children (National Business Group on Health (www.businessgrouphealth.org)).
All In is a family wellness program with an energizing mountain hiking theme. Families improve health in 3 core areas — Move More, Eat for Energy, and Connect — by practicing new behaviors and supporting each other on the way to the summit.

Inviting family members to participate in employee wellness initiatives makes behavior change easier and more sustainable for workers.  To be effective in stabilizing healthcare costs, today’s corporate wellness initiatives must consider, include, and target the people who can make or break their employees’ well-being:  the people they live with.  The Health Enhancement Systems white paper, Promoting Wellness on the Home Front: The Business Case for Targeting Family Health and Well-Being (www.healthenhancementsystems.com/whitepapers), summarizes research on this issue.  The free resource provides wellness program managers evidence-based strategies to promote long-term employee and dependent health.

Social support is a key ingredient in successful wellness programs. Because most employees spend much of the day onsite or connected to the worksite, employers are uniquely positioned to cultivate healthy behaviors with effective social support. Offering health promotion programs that include family members infuses this element, which often is missing in wellness campaigns, and encourages healthy habits at work and at home. Employees and dependents who adopt sustainable healthy behaviors are likely to incur lower healthcare costs over time.

All In (http://www.hesonline.com/allin) clears the path to better health with simple everyday steps that even young children can practice. This program equips parents with the knowledge and tools needed to become healthy living role models who lead the way toward better family well-being. Families work together to climb a virtual mountain, earning elevation by completing health-boosting daily and weekly activities. An inclusive, flexible definition of family gives the program wide appeal, and participants will find resources to engage children, teens, and adults. Inspiring daily content supports action in each of the 3 core areas. The Family Table offers healthy recipes, conversation starters, and ideas for involving everyone in meal planning and cooking. And the All In Climbing Wall offers a place for participants to share trials and triumphs as they move toward the summit.

“All In is a win-win for employers, employees, and families,” notes Dean Witherspoon, President and founder of Health Enhancement Systems. “Employers now have an effective way to promote wellness in employees and dependents — while fostering healthy family relationships and boosting workplace morale. All In makes it easy with a fun theme, easy tracking, and inspiring resources to promote well-being across the lifespan.”

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Health Enhancement Systems creates employee wellness programs for organizations in North America and throughout the world. More than 20 effective, engaging HES wellness campaigns have been adopted by over a thousand organizations — serving hundreds of thousands of participants successfully.

For more information about Health Enhancement Systems, visit www.HealthEnhancementSystems.com or call 800.326.2317.