FAIRFIELD —
Peer pressure can be a powerful motivation. A group in Jefferson County vows to use that influence to help people be healthy.
“We focus on nutrition, physical activity and [avoiding] tobacco product use,” said Ken Daley, executive director of letsgojeffco.com. “This obesity epidemic in the United States over the past few years has become an almost unstoppable force.”
Obesity is not just keeping Americans from enjoying bathing suit weather. It’s killing people, Daley said.
“I am looking at [a study] showing it is likely that about 16.5 percent of premature deaths is directly caused by low cardiovascular fitness. That’s more deaths than obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol combined.”
He feels being overweight has become normal. Being unhealthily heavy shouldn’t be considered OK, Daley warned. When the heart, the lungs and other organs are carrying so much extra weight, the stress they are under can cause discomfort, injuries and illness.
“If everybody is overweight ... you don’t have the right eyes to see what the problem is. But the physiology we have,” said Daley, “does know what’s correct.”
So one part of the letsgojeffco.com effort is to let people know there’s a problem — and a series of solutions. One of the best bets, though, is to remain healthy.
“Preventive health is dollars and cents,” said Daley. “In Iowa, by 2020, it’s likely going to cost almost $35,000 per year for each employee’s health care. Health care has been increasing in cost by about 10 percent per year, while salaries have been increasing at about 2 percent per year.”
Paying health benefits is going to be more of a burden on businesses than paying salaries, he said.
“Firms that have [started] good wellness programs ... have cut their [health coverage] increases to 2.5 percent,” Daley said.
Some companies in Jefferson County have tried letsgojeffco.com’s “break in a box” activities and games employees can try on their break instead of going for a snack.
Daley said studies show those trying an activity for one of their breaks enjoy greater productivity the rest of the day.
“You can’t do it by any one lifestyle adjustment. We’re trying to reach out in all areas of life,” said Daley. “If you look at how a person changes a behavior, as social animals, people around us have a strong influence on what we do. If a co-worker quits smoking, you are [30 percent] more likely to quit smoking. But the opposite is true, too.”
If the whole family is munching on unhealthy food while watching TV or surfing the Internet, it becomes the norm. Daley said we have to get each other up and moving.
“This whole thing is fun. It should not be about hard work and sweat. It’s difficult to give up something, but enjoyable to add something exciting. So it’s not about not eating — it’s about eating well.”
So another of their programs seeks 100 people to become “wellness ambassadors.” Perhaps someone at work lost 30 pounds, and has co-workers asking them about it. That person can be a good source of information and motivation.
“We’re creating a group of people who can influence their peers,” said Daley. “It’s the only thing that has been shown to work — social relationships have the strongest influence of any intervention. Social is king, even in families. We need to create social groupings that are supportive of dynamic physical activity, a love of good food in correct proportions, and reduced risky behaviors like tobacco use.”
Web Extras
www.letsgojeffco.com
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Website pushes for a healthier Jefferson County
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