WELLNESS
Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of, and making choices toward, a more successful existence. This means becoming proactive in reducing and/or preventing illness. The Department of Health & Aging estimates that over half of Australian adults don’t get enough exercise. In fact, physical activity decreases with age, especially among women. What most Australians don’t know is that physical activity doesn’t need to be strenuous to have benefits, and that regular, moderate physical activity, like a 30-minute brisk lunchtime walk five times a week is beneficial.
EXERCISE CAN HELP YOUR EMPLOYEES:
- Increase psychological well-being
- Reduce problematic blood pressure
- Control their weight
- Build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints
- Become stronger and better able to move without falling
- Increase one’s capacity to perform physical work
- Improve glucose regulation
WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW
- People who are usually inactive can improve their health and well-being by becoming moderately active on a regular basis
- More duration, frequency and intensity of the physical activity results in greater health benefits
WELLNESS PROGRAMS ARE PREVENTION PROGRAMS
THE HIGH COST OF HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES
Heart attacks are expensive for corporations. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2010), the total cost of cardiovascular disease is estimated to be $14.2 BILLION annually. Type 2 diabetes is estimated at $10.3 BILLION, with productivity losses accounting for $4.1 BILLION. (2011). What do most of these diseases have in common? They are preventable. Companies pay for lost time due to days off for “stress”, sickness, premature death, retraining and bereavement. The prevention of just one heart attack justifies the investment of an entire year’s cost for an associate wellness program.
Economic Benefits please click
