GOOD EMPLOYEE HEALTH IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS

Eighty-five percent of the U.S. adult population is employed and spends half of its waking hours at work. With that being said, an estimated 45 million Americans are obese– 65 percent of all Mississippians. And approximately 346,500 Mississippians have diabetes, with another 800,000-plus at risk for developing the disease.

"What this means is that chances are good that a coworker, boss or employee not only will develop diabetes, but also cardiovascular disease, hypertension, colon or breast cancer, high cholesterol, depression, anxiety or musculoskeletal issues," said Irena McClain, MPH, associate director of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. "There is a very significant correlation between physical inactivity and these major health issues."

With the average employee spending seven to eight hours each day at his or her place of employment, it is time for Mississippi employers to engage their employees in developing active living, through work strategies and projects and by fostering a quality culture and work environment that supports individual health and productivity, McClain said.

Improved productivity and morale, reduced stress levels, decreased absenteeism and turnover rates, enhanced job satisfaction and better health-care management costs are just a few of the perks associated with active living at work.

Equally significant are the benefits directly related to employee health, such as obesity prevention, chronic fatigue reduction, an increase in joint flexibility and greater stamina, strength, endurance and co-ordination.

For example, according to a statistic published on the Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) Web site, "If individuals add 30 minutes or more of physical activity to their daily regimen, 15 percent of all new colon cancer cases could be prevented– that's approximately 14,250 cases per year."

One study cited by the PHAC estimated that 70 percent of lower-back pain experienced was due to poor muscle tone and flexibility of the lower back muscles and poor abdominal muscle tone.

Poor muscle tone and colon cancer are only a few of the ailments associated with physical inactivity, though.

"Mississippi is now the heaviest state in the Union," McClain said. "Hundreds of thousands of Mississippians have diabetes and hundreds of thousands more are either overweight or obese and, consequently, at risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and some types of cancer."

The DFM has several recommendations for Mississippi workplaces to encourage active lifestyles and help alleviate some of the major health issues facing Mississippians. First, provide employees with access to information and education on a wide variety of health and wellness topics. And focus on the employees and their families, as well as the communities in which they live.

"All business, no matter their size, can benefit from workplace-wellness initiatives," said McClain. "For many small companies, it may not be feasible to establish facilities on the premises, but they can make arrangements for their employees to participate in community or health-club facilities. They can also use flex-time arrangements so that employees have more opportunities to participate."

Schedule an office health fair. Call a DFM representative to conduct blood-glucose and cholesterol screenings or give a talk on the importance of good health, as it relates to optimal work performance. These are just a few ways to promote good health, McClain said.

"Remember, a company with healthy employees has a positive impact on its community and customers," she said. "And every employee at every level has responsibility for creating a healthy work environment and promoting healthy lifestyles."

For more information on local and national statistics and the other health issues mentioned in this article, check out the Mississippi State Department of Health's Behavioral Risk Factors Survey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the PHAC's Web site, www.phac-aspc.gc.ca.

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi (DFM) is the state's only nonprofit health organization that provides diabetes research, information, patient services and advocacy, and its mission is to provide hope through research, programs and service to the 346,500 Mississippians with diabetes. Every dollar raised by the DFM stays in the state to support these efforts. In addition, 92 cents of every dollar raised goes towards the organization's charitable purposes. The DFM is the one diabetes organization totally dedicated to all Mississippians– from children to seniors– who live with diabetes.