Cummins' Vision: Improved Health Through Lifestyle Medicine Innovation

The importance of lifestyle for overall health and well-being cannot be overstated. By Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, nearly 80% of many chronic conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes are preventable through the adoption of healthier lifestyles. Yet, while preventable, these common illnesses account for the majority of the rising US health care costs. For nearly a century, Cummins Inc, a large global employer headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, that designs, manufactures, distributes, and services diesel and natural gas engines and related technologies, has demonstrated a penchant for innovation. However, in the area of health improvement, the company believed it could do better and decided to address the prime factor-lifestyle-the root cause of the growing problem of chronic disease for its employees and their families. This report offers a glimpse into Cummins' forward-thinking strategy and their early efforts to combat preventable chronic disease through lifestyle and lifestyle medicine.