Healthy Employees = Productive Employees: A YMCA initiative has strong ties to business costs

Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2002 show that 65 percent of Americans ages 20 and older was considered overweight, with nearly half of those considered obese.

Among children, CDC statistics show nearly 20 percent as overweight.

Obesity may be the country’s largest single health issue, contributing to heart disease, diabetes and breathing difficulties.

The YMCA of the USA is hoping to do something about the problem with its Activate America program.

At the heart of the program is a holistic approach to health involving the mind, body and spirit. The program also seeks to encourage collaboration between the civic, business and school communities to support healthy living.

“A healthy community is a better community,” said Jim Anderson, president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the visioning team. “To relate that to business, healthy employees are more productive employees, happier employees. You can take it down to the individual organization or you can generalize it in a more community sense, but it all comes down to a healthier community.”

Nuts and bolts

The program’s efforts are specifically aimed at three groups: children; adults who have been unable to sustain healthy habits, called the “start/stop population;” and racial, ethnic and social groups at greater risk for unhealthy living habits.

The Ozarks Regional YMCA’s involvement in the program has two parts: Pioneering Healthy Communities, which studies what programs can help people choose healthier lifestyles; and Appetite for Life, which involves a communitywide approach developed and encouraged by the CDC.

The Springfield-Greene County Parks Department already has developed programs toward those goals: Ozarks Eat Smart, which encourages local restaurants to offer healthy choices in a healthy environment; walking programs in several Springfield elementary schools; and targeted health programs run through both CoxHealth and St. John’s systems.

Brad Toft, CEO of the Ozarks Regional YMCA, said the local Y is one of only four in the country participating in both programs. He said initial funding came from the YMCA of the USA, through the CDC.

The $15,000 the Ozarks Y received is enough to start, but “as this moves forward, (programs) that come out of it will be really community initiatives funded by the hospitals and area companies,” Toft said. “We have all of these vested groups, and we hope to be able to maximize all of our resources.”

Business, civic visions

Local Activate America efforts are organized through a 17-member visioning team, made up of area civic and business leaders.

Sally Hargis, vice president of corporate strategy for Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. and fellow board member, said the business community’s representation on the planning committee is no accident.

“Employers have a lot at stake when it comes to their workers’ health,” Hargis said. “Health care costs are some of the highest costs for employers, so it just makes sense that employers address the health and wellness of their employees. We know that if we’re proactive we can positively impact those costs.”

Deb Scott of Wilhoit Properties is another board member, as well as president-elect of the YMCA board. She said the program has a big goal.

“Just look at the front page of any publication on a daily basis and you’ll see how the American lifestyle affects health – rising diabetes, the spiraling costs of health care for what are usually preventable diseases,” she said. “On a communitywide basis, there are things we can do to try to inspire the community, and it will take that coalition to build that momentum.”

A successful end result, according to the Chamber President Anderson, would be a fundamental change in people’s behavior, and it’s going to take everyone’s help.

“For it truly to be successful, people need to have that focus no matter where they are,” he said. “Whether it’s at school, work, church, this club or that club, the message should be hopefully through the whole community.”

Activate America Springfield-Greene County Visioning Team

Jodie Adams, director of Springfield-Greene County Parks Department

Jim Anderson, president of Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Roseanne Bentley, commissioner, Greene County

Tom Carlson, mayor, Springfield

Rhoda Clark, director of Ozarks Regional YMCA development

Mark Dixon, executive committee member of Southwest Minority Health Alliance

Matt Gifford, vice president and general manager of the Springfield Cardinals

Kevin Gipson, director of Springfield-Greene County Health Department

Julie Guillebeau, chief operating officer of Council of Churches of the Ozarks

Sally Hargis, vice president corporate strategy, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.

Sharon Nahon, district director for U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt

Lisa Nally, owner/CEO of ACR Nally Communications

Mike Peters, vice president of public affairs for St. John’s Health System

Ron Prenger, vice president of clinical services for CoxHealth

Norm Ridder, superintendent of Springfield R-XII Public Schools

Deb Scott, commercial real estate

broker, Wilhoit Properties

Brad Toft, CEO of Ozarks Regional YMCA[[In-content Ad]]