A recent study by Gallup found that U-S businesses lose more than 150-billion dollars each year due to employees’ health-related issues.
The city of Omaha, an elementary school, and 13 businesses recently completed a 12-week wellness challenge. The program, called the Weight No More Wellness Challenge, sought to get participants exercising regularly and eating healthy.
Deb Gray is a wellness consultant with Complete Nutrition, the company that sponsored the challenge. She says programs promoting health and wellness are important not just for individuals, but for an entire community as well. Gray says workplace wellness programs create a culture of accountability and support.
A 2011 community health needs assessment conducted by the Douglas County Health Department showed obesity is the county’s number-three health concern.