Action:

Create through executive order the Wisconsin Encourages Healthy Lifestyles (WEHL) initiative. The WEHL initiative creates the WEHL Council to promote healthy lifestyles for all state employees and encourages each state agency to create its own council. The statewide council, guided by the core principles developed by the Turning Point Transition Team and described in Healthiest Wisconsin 2010: A Partnership Plan to Improve the Health of the Public, will provide advice to the governor on health promotion and wellness issues for State of Wisconsin employees

Goals:

1. To improve the health of State employees by increasing their physical activity level and optimizing their eating habits.
2. Encourage physical activity 30 minutes per day; this can be in 10- to 15-minute increments.
3. Encourage healthy eating habits that include fewer calories and less fat.

Formula:

Adding 30 minutes of physical activity per day and decreasing intake of 100 calories per day will equal a reduction of 20 lbs. in one year for an average person. Benefits of this formula = reduces risk of death, diabetes, and heart disease by 50%. Even in the absence of significant weight loss, most of these benefits are present.

Eating and Obesity:

1. Obesity is usually associated with a lack of physical fitness.
2. This increase in obesity has lead to an increase in diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers and many other health problems.
3. Obesity as a marker accounts for about 20% of health care costs.
4. Having diabetes increases your health care costs 2 to 3 fold.

Physical Fitness:

1. Lack of physical fitness in the non-obese is responsible for additional health care costs that have not been quantified.
2. The all-cause death rate for the physically unfit is twice that of the moderately physically fit individual, even if that individual is obese.
3. Being active to a level that achieves an individually appropriate heart rate for 30 minutes a day is all that is needed.
4. This will burn 150 - 300 calories per day and result in a dramatic reduction in all-cause mortality, diabetes, heart disease and in a weight loss of 20 pounds or more over one year, in combination with a small reduction of caloric intake.

Statistical Support:

"People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have half the risk of developing cancer than those who eat the least..." (JADA 1996; 96:1027-1039)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1999) estimated that 35% of the coronary heart disease among people who lead a sedentary lifestyle could have been prevented by increasing physical activity.

"We know that as little as a 7% weight loss (via better food choices and increased activity) in patients at risk will reduce the progression to Diabetes 50%..." Presentation by Dr. William Washington at Healthy Lifestyle Symposium.

According to the Centers for Disease Control the benefits of Regular Physical Activity:

*Reduces the risk of dying prematurely
*Reduces the risk of dying from heart disease
*Reduces the risk of developing diabetes
*Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure
*Helps reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure
*Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer
*Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety
*Helps control weight
*Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints
*Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move without falling
*Promotes psychological well-being

Numerous studies have found a correlation between obesity and increased claims costs. Obesity is generally defined as body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Kaiser - Oakland, CA found individuals with BMI of 30-30.49 had increased claims cost 25%. BMI of more than 35% increased claims 44%. Medstat Group Study found BMI of more than 27.5% cost 25% more than ideal body weight. Kaiser Permanente - Portland concluded a BMI of more than 30 increased claims by 36% and a BMI of more than 35 increased claims by 44%. Bank One Study found 24% of health care costs were due to overweight.