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Workplace Initiatives
Walking Program
Adults are encouraged to get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate physical
activity each week, and activity of at least 10 minutes in duration at a time
can be used to accumulate those 150 minutes. Point of decision prompts that
encourage people to walk farther when they are running errands in their cars or
parking in their work parking lot can help more people accumulate those 10
minute activity bouts. Combined with pedometers, which have been shown to
significantly increase physical activity, this intervention can encourage
continued walking throughout the day.
Consider having your employees participate in an 8 week walking challenge.
Healthy Communities will provide everything you need to execute a successful
employee challenge including: promotional materials, tracking, and pedometers
for participating employees. Help us encourage your employees to walk their way
to a healthier and happier life by supporting a walking challenge at your
business.
The first 8 week Walking Challenge will begin on November 8th. Don’t miss the
opportunity for your employees to walk their way to better health.
Stair Usage Promotion
Evidence exists that by providing attractive, interesting, and encouraging
signage, information, and/or incentives individuals will increase their usage of
stairs as opposed to elevators or escalators. With adult overweight rates at 27%
and obesity rates at 31% the health of Bartholomew County adults could be
improved by increasing the physical activity levels in our community. Stair
walking in public buildings also has a multiplier effect as others see friends
and co-workers taking the stairs and make the decision to do so themselves.
If your business has a location with stairs, Healthy Communities can provide
point of decision prompts (posters) encouraging employees and visitors to take
the stairs. Further show your commitment to improving the health of your
employees through physical activity by considering creative ways to make stair
wells at your organization more appealing.
Active Transportation
The City of Columbus, the largest city in Bartholomew County, recently adopted a
bicycle and pedestrian plan. Passage of this plan provides important policy and
infrastructure supports for increased biking and walking in and around Columbus
and can serve as a helpful model to the rest of the county. A community-wide
campaign can help increase awareness of the health benefits of active
transportation as well as normalize this activity through stories of people who
are already doing it. Addressing the lack of bike parking facilities eliminates
a significant barrier, as well.
Support this initiative by promoting active commuting to your employees.
Consider adding bike racks to your facility and/or offering incentives for
employees who bike or walk to work. Healthy Communities can help by providing
promotional materials encouraging active commuting. Qualifying organizations may
also be eligible to have bike racks installed at no cost or a reduced cost.
Healthy Meeting Guidelines
Many workplaces have food and beverages in constant supply, not only at meal
times but at other times as well. Studies have shown that people eat more
calories under these circumstances than if food is not constantly present. This
intervention will promote Healthy Meeting and Event Guidelines to all
Bartholomew County businesses with encouragement to adopt them as policy.
Evidence also supports policy and environmental approaches to make healthy
choices easier such as improving access to healthier foods in the worksite.
Consider implementing an organizational policy that makes healthy options
available at company sponsored events or meetings. Healthy Communities has
guidelines, sample policies, and promotional materials to assist your
organization in the implementation of the Healthy Meeting Guidelines. A copy of
the Guidelines can be downloaded at
www.WhatsYourReach.org
Bartholomew County on the Move
There is evidence that community-based physical activity interventions are a
cost-effective method for increasing physical activity. The Bartholomew County
on the Move program (BCOTM) began in 2004 and has been held annually ever since.
BCOTM is a twelve-week lifestyle challenge that uses teams of five and has been
instrumental in encouraging social support for physical activity. Teams track
their exercise minutes and are also weighed in once a month. Educational
sessions provide guidance on issues such as how to set up an inexpensive home
gym, mall walking, how to stay motivated, as well as other physical activity and
nutrition topics. While BCOTM has been a useful approach with hundreds of
Bartholomew County residents every year, the data tell us that many people
either do not know about the program or they do not know how to find 4 other
teammates. When teams are put together by the program, they are not nearly as
successful as naturally formed teams of people who know each other and can
encourage each other. In 2009 BCOTM reached out to worksites to offer onsite
weigh-ins for participating employers. This was well-received by the 8 worksites
that took the opportunity and we would like to add additional worksites over the
next two years.
Healthy Communities will provide everything you need to implement a 12 week
healthy lifestyle challenge at your organization including rules, registration,
promotion, and tracking materials. Healthy Communities will also provide staff
for onsite weigh-ins for qualifying organizations. This is a great opportunity
for employees to participate in a team based challenge to support and encourage
one another to make healthy lifestyle choices including weight loss/management.
Bartholomew County on the Move will kick-off in January 2011. Don’t miss the
opportunity for your employees to practice healthy living, lose weight and feel
great.
For more information please contact:
Kristin Munn
Workplace Initiatives Lead
kmunn@crh.org
375-3998