According to the CDC, two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Those individuals, especially those who fall into the obese category, are at higher risk for a number of diseases and serious health conditions including high blood pressure, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.
Obesity has an impact on the healthcare system as a whole as well. According to the CDC, “obesity and its associated health problems have a significant economic impact on the U.S. healthcare system.”
As an industry, health clubs are obviously doing what they can to positively impact this healthcare crisis. At your club you likely offer weight loss courses, seminars on nutrition and more — in hopes of educating members on the importance of maintaining a healthy weight.
But, there may be a population you’re not sharing this message with within your club: Your employees. Are you encouraging them to be the healthiest they can be?
Having healthy employees is a benefit to your business. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, “The return on investment (ROI) related to employee wellness programs typically includes the overall healthcare cost-savings achieved, as well as productivity increases due to a reduction in sick days taken by employees.”
But, being healthy at work — even in a health club setting — is getting harder and harder. People are spending longer hours at their desks, and oftentimes prioritizing work over personal well-being.
To make a positive impact, the Mayo Clinic has shared a list of things you can encourage employees to do instead of sitting.
- Stand while talking on the phone or eating lunch.
- If you work at a desk for long periods of time, try a standing desk — or improvise with a high table or counter.
- Walk laps with your colleagues rather than gathering in a conference room for meetings.
- Position your work surface above a treadmill — with a computer screen and keyboard on a stand or a specialized treadmill-ready vertical desk — so that you can be in motion throughout the day.
Recently, Club Solutions invested in convertible standing desks for its employees, which have been a big hit. In addition, we’re encouraged to take “walking meetings,” have subsidized gym memberships, and can participate in a running club that jogs every day at noon.
Make sure you emphasize that employees should make their health and well-being a priority, and then support that priority in any way possible.
In what ways do you support employee wellness?
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
