Support Healthy Initiatives

I had a lot of conflicting thoughts reading this story recently, which discussed employers who assess additional health care charges to workers who are obese or smoke.      http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45335553/ns/health-the_new_york_times/#.TscDAcNE2WQ

I’d love for everyone to live a healthy lifestyle so that their chances of getting a chronic illness or disease are minimized.  However, I’d also love for everyone who isn’t leading a healthy lifestyle to have access to information, education, and support to promote a healthy lifestyle.

While it sounds like there are certain rules in place that try to prevent extreme penalization by employers, it also sounds like there are plenty of loopholes.  I understand that insurance costs rise when more services are rendered.  You can look at statistics that show many of those services are related to preventable illnesses caused by unhealthy behaviors.

But why play the blame game when we could all work together to create a stronger healthy culture?  There are so many health champions in the world, in the U.S. and right here in Des Moines.  Michelle Obama has been a champion for trying to get healthier foods into school menus.  Business leaders in Iowa have banded together to develop an initiative to try and make Iowa the healthiest state.  Sure, one or two programs won’t change society, but finding and supporting health champions (or becoming one yourself!) is a good start!

So what can you do?  There are many things!  Here are just a few to get you started.
1. Evaluate your own health and fitness.  If you need to fine tune your routine, start by setting goals and educating yourself on healthy choices. Share any new-found knowledge with family and friends.
2. Help support others.  Go on a bike ride with your family or cook healthy meals with friends.  Volunteer to coach your child’s soccer or baseball team.  Support complete strangers by volunteering at athletic events.  Dam to Dam and the Des Moines Marathon utilize volunteers to hand out water to runners.  Racers look for motivational signs and cheering to help them push through to the finish line.
3.  Ask for assistance.  If your employer doesn’t offer any wellness programs, ask if they’re willing.  Do a little research and offer ideas or recommendations.  Or check out those resources for yourself.  You may find free resources to use!

There are hundreds of ways to support healthy initiatives.  What ways do you offer support?  Instead of being frustrated with the way things are, help be a catalyst to change it!  Feel free to share your ideas and recommendations :)

Miss FitGab