Association Between Corporate Wellness Program Participation and Changes in Health Risks
John C White1, Stephen Hartley, Ronald J Ozminkowski
1Health Economics Outcome Research, Optum, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Dr White); Consumer Solutions Group, Optum, Phoenix, Arizona (Mr Hartley); Consumer Solutions Group, Optum, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Dr Ozminkowski).
Objective:
To assess the relationship between wellness program participation and employee health risks.
Methods:
Data from 173,901 health-risk appraisals and wellness program participation records were used to assess changes in seven health risks (blood pressure, body weight, cholesterol level, nutrition, physical inactivity, stress, and tobacco use).
Results:
Controlling for baseline covariates, high-risk members who completed only a coaching program were significantly more likely to lower five out of seven health risks than were high-risk members in the comparison group. Participation in multiple wellness activities (eg, biometric screening) increased the odds that risks would be reduced.In addition, the number of risk levels that improved was greater than the total that worsened.
Conclusions:
This study provides evidence that wellness program participation was associated with significant risk reduction, particularly among individuals who participated in more than one program.
Related Concept Videos
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results...
Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...

