Sponsoring a Corporate Wellness Program can Impact “at risk “Children

The habits and lifestyle choices we make for ourselves can also impact the health of our families. If individuals become aware of their own “at risk“ factors, they can start making their own lifestyle changes, thus impacting the health of the entire family. A corporate sponsored wellness program, which includes a biometric screening and wellness coaching, can be a major tool in informing and educating participants, which can also translate into healthier lifestyle choices for the entire family. The wellness coach can sit down with the entire family and discuss strategies for lifestyle changing. Engaging the children as well as the parents can be a powerful step in changing the behaviors of the family.

In a recent government funded study it was determined that 20% of young adults are likely to have high blood pressure. Diet, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles appear to be the key reasons, according to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill researchers. They tested 14,000 people between the ages of 24 and 32 and found that one in five had high blood pressure (140/90 or higher).

Kathleen Mullan Harris, a sociology professor and principal investigator for the study called the findings evidence “alarming, especially since more than half did not know they had high blood pressure.” “These are people that shouldn’t be sick-and they are.”

In many situations in young adults and children, obesity is one of the major causes of high blood pressure. Children with siblings and parents that are also overweight may be at increased risk for also being overweight. This can be linked to shared family behaviors (lifestyles) such as over eating, poor food choices, and lack of exercise.

Obese children can be at risk for:
High blood pressure
High Cholesterol
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Bone Problems

Children don’t do the grocery shopping. It is up to parents to provide healthy foods, so that children only have access to healthy choices. In today’s society, the tendencies have become to hand the child a bag of snacks and send them off to watch TV or play video games. Chips and snacks should not become the “babysitter”. For breakfast, the convenience foods for busy, working parents have become bagels and pop tarts instead of a whole grain cereal or oatmeal and fresh fruit.

Increasing the physical activity of the entire family is a healthful habit. Parents should lead by example. They should also try to avoid singling out the obese child and making them feel uncomfortable or “bad” about themselves. Plan activities that everyone can participate in such as: biking, walking and swimming. It is important to set a schedule and get physical activity as part as a normal weekly routine, not just occasionally. Try to avoid sedentary activities such as TV, video games (unless they have an exercise component, and extended time on the computer.

Remember, it is easier for the children if the entire family is part of the program. Healthy choices by adults can affect the future health and quality of life for the children. What makes it especially successful, is if the employer also sponsors a program with resources for the employees.

Source: WebMD