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Investing in health, that's what more than 50 companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are doing, by getting involved in the "Live Healthy Dallas Wellness Challenge". It's a 100-day challenge to get in shape.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are too may obese Americans and not enough exercising. The result can lead to avoidable and expensive health problems.
Despite the current economy, some area companies are taking on the expense of enrolling their employees in the wellness challenge. "I see it as a great investment for our company," said Southwest Office Systems President Vince Puente.
Pushing boxes and moving his fingers on the keyboard is the extent of exercise that Mike Haws gets. "The last thing you want to do, after you work hard all day, is go workout or jog, or run," the investment coordinator said.
Malie Hewett is in a similar boat. She's been busy raising three children, planning graduations and working full-time. "It just seems that time gets away from you and you tend to give more to your children and family, then you do yourself," she explained.
Now, for the first time in years, Mike and Malie are taking steps to get healthy. Both are employed at Southwest Office Systems, which is offering an after work dance class and enrolling employees in the 100-day program.
According to Southwest Office Systems officials their health insurance premiums recently shot up by 30-percent. "We know that the insurance companies are businesses," said Puente. "They look at the expense that we caused them the previous years and if we keep moving towards a healthier group of people I do believe it's going to have an effect on lowering our rates."
As a program participant Mike is hoping to learn to eat better and be healthier. It couldn't come at a better time, since his doctor recently told him he's at risk for diabetes if he doesn't drop weight soon.
Maile is concerned about her health as well and is hoping to drop back down to the size two she was when her kids were young.
CBS 11 News is going to check back with Mike and Maile at the end of the program, to see how they did.
Live Healthy Dallas is a part of Live Healthy America, a nationwide, web based, and teamwork driven program designed to motivate and teach individuals and organizations how to make positive and lasting changes to achieve a healthy lifestyle through increased physical activity, improved diet, and weight loss over the course of 100 days.
Last year, more than 3,142 adults participated in Live Healthy Dallas, shedding 8,602 pounds and logging more than nearly 5 million minutes of physical activity.
Your company can still accept the Live Healthy Dallas 100-Day Wellness Challenge by registering and setting up teams at www.livehealthydallas.org or for more information, call Live Healthy Dallas, 888-282-0822
Participants include presenting sponsor UnitedHealthcare along with other sponsors Genesis Physicians Group and YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas.
Chamber members Parkland Hospital, The Beck Group, American Cancer Society, University of Texas at Dallas, Ernst & Young, Southwest Office Systems, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field, Baylor Health Care System, Holmes Murphy, Dallas Apartment Assoc., Children’s Medical Center, American Red Cross, and many other companies are participating in the 2009 Challenge. |
