Metabolic syndrome costs more than you think
Metabolic syndrome costs more than you think
[Please see "Learn & Earn" chart. Source: Pitney Bowes, Stamford, CT].
Of a cohort group of 5,455, 21% of employees participating in Intel Corp.'s "Health for Life 3-Step Wellness Check" were moved from high risk to low/moderate risk during the program's first year.
See Intel's "Walk for Wellness" Poster (PDF)
"We are watching this trend into Year 3 and are now seeing Year 1 to Year 3 transition of 23% and a Year 2 to Year 3 transition of 9%," reports Patti Clavier, BSN, RN, COHN-S, senior project manager of Intel Corp.'s Global Health for Life Wellness Program. "These are all very positive signs."
Metabolic syndrome affects almost one-quarter of the U.S. workforce and is linked to increased absenteeism and higher risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according to a new study of 5,512 employees of a large financial services corporation.1
Metabolic syndrome is defined as having at least three of these disease risk factors: a waist circumference over 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women, high triglyceride levels, reduced levels of high-density cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high glucose levels.
However, "we believe that having just one condition can contribute to serious disease," adds Clavier. "If more than one condition occurs, the risk is even greater."
At Stamford, CT-based Pitney Bowes, a variety of programs address metabolic syndrome as well as the individual syndrome components. Some examples:
- A weight management program focuses not only on weight loss, but also on the impact that healthy habits such as good nutrition, regular exercise, and quitting tobacco use have on metabolic syndrome.
- A "Living Well with Diabetes" online module teaches participants about their condition, metabolic syndrome, and how to reduce their risk factors.
- An educational program titled "Learn & Earn Health Care University" teaches employees about the components of metabolic syndrome and how to reduce their risk. For completing the course, employees receive a $100 Visa gift card.
- Many employees have the opportunity to complete on-site biometric screenings that screen for all metabolic syndrome components. Employees are educated about their risks, ways to reduce their risks, or how to prevent risks and stay healthy.
Elysa Jacobs, MS, RD, manager of the company's corporate health improvement programs, says, "We are currently expanding our screening program, with six more on-site screenings scheduled. In addition, we encourage employees to be screened by their physician. Our health plans cover preventive screenings at low or no cost."
Move employees to low risk
Intel's "Health for Life 3-Step Wellness Check" screens an employee's weight and blood pressure and includes a blood draw to assess lipids and fasting blood sugar. All this information is entered into a health risk assessment (HRA).
Participating employees are given resources to manage their individual medical and/or lifestyle risks. These include online monitoring tools for blood pressure and body mass index; online resources to support weight loss, physical activity, and nutrition; and onsite and telephonic health coaching. These steps occur:
1. Once the employee has received information from the Wellness Check on biometrics and blood draw results, the HRA is completed.
2. The employee then is eligible for health coaching, onsite and in person. "The coach reviews the HRA results and helps the employee form goals around behavior change," says Clavier.
Depending on the risks identified and whether the employee is interested, ongoing sessions with the health coach are offered. "They can opt-in to a six-month module for additional coaching sessions around a specific topic, such as nutrition, weight loss, exercise, or stress management," says Clavier.
Reference
1. Burton WN, Chen C-Y, Schultz AB, et al. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an employed population and the impact on health and productivity. J Occup Environ Med 2008; 50:1,139-1,148.
SOURCE
For more information, contact:
Elysa Jacobs, MS, RD, Manager, Health Improvement programs, Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT. Phone: (203) 351-6531. E-mail: [email protected]
Of a cohort group of 5,455, 21% of employees participating in Intel Corp.'s "Health for Life 3-Step Wellness Check" were moved from high risk to low/moderate risk during the program's first year.Subscribe Now for Access
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