New Web-Based Program to Promote Physical Activity Among California's Workforce.Business Editors/High-Tech & Health Writers SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2001 The California Health Promotion Collaborative, representing health and human resource professionals throughout California, has launched a new website. The site located at http://www.ca-takeaction.com aims to promote physical activity among California's workforce. "Physically active employees are healthier, more productive, have higher self-esteem, use fewer health care dollars and even look healthier," said James Carman Car´man n. 1. A man whose employment is to drive, or to convey goods in, a car or car. , MS, Employee Health Promotion Coordinator with the Physical Activity Health Initiative of the UCSF UCSF University of California at San Francisco Institute for Health and Aging. Active employees are also more likely to successfully make other healthy changes in their lives -- like quitting smoking, adopting healthier eating habits or controlling their weight, said Jill Dorris, President of the San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. Wellness Coalition, a partner in the California Health Promotion Collaborative. The Take Action! website helps participants set their own 10-week physical activity goals and strive to achieve them with incentive prizes and the encouragement of a team of 15-30 co-workers, explained Carman. "The team building encourages friendly competition, social support and camaraderie," he added. More than 60 percent of adult Californians are currently sedentary sedentary /sed·en·tary/ (sed´en-tar?e) 1. sitting habitually; of inactive habits. 2. pertaining to a sitting posture. sedentary of inactive habits; pertaining to a fat, castrated or confined animal. and obesity has increased 67 percent among California adults since 1991, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. . A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal, published 48 times per year by the American Medical Association. JAMA is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world. (JAMA JAMA abbr. Journal of the American Medical Association ) (December 15, 1999) recommends that employers invest in improving modifiable health risks among employees to maximize their return on health care costs. The study found that increasing activity one day a week was associated with a drop of 4.7 percent in median health care charges. In addition, those who maintain normal weight for their body type, exercise three days per week, and have never smoked boasted 49 percent lower health care costs. In short, physical activity is good business, said Carman. The website was developed through the cooperative effort of the UCSF Institute for Health and Aging and the California Health Promotion Collaborative, which includes the Association for Worksite Health Promotion and local health promotion coalitions throughout the state. To learn more about this free service to all California employees, become a coordinator or team captain at your work place, or find out about promotional opportunities that target work sites or consumers, visit http://www.ca-takeaction.com or contact James Carman at 916/324-3996. |
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