On June 29, 2010, The Denver Business Journal reported that Colorado had the lowest rate of adult obesity of any state in the nation (“F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010”). Colorado’s adult obesity rate was 19.1% and 38 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia had obesity rates over 25%.
America’s top 20 healthiest cities were listed in the September 13, 2001 issue of Forbes. Denver was ranked fifth because 61% of residents were in excellent or good physical health, cardiovascular disease rates were lower than average and residents were less likely to be obese, diabetic, have asthma, or die of heart disease. The study was conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine.
In February 2011 four of Colorado’s major cities placed in TIME‘s Top 15 Fittest Cities of the United States list. Boulder was at the top of the list as the fittest city in the United States, followed by Arvada (6th), Denver (11th) and Aurora (15th).
As part of its economic development strategy the City of Boulder has included natural products and the outdoor recreation industry as part of its lifestyle clusters to support.
Colorado and Boulder are arguably a Mecca for health and fitness, along with Salt Lake, Austin, and Portland.
With this backdrop, it came as a surprise to read the headlines of the Sunday February 19, 2012 Boulder Daily Camera, “Survey: Weight a Staff Issue.” The article discussed a survey of city employees that showed 57% of the City of Boulder workforce was overweight.
Key findings from the report (published in the Camera) follow:
• 57% are over their recommended weight.
• 47% have low fitness levels.
• 43% have high cholesterol.
• 41% are at a high risk of cancer.
• 40% are at high risk of heart disease.
• 32% have poor nutritional intake.
• 26% have high blood-sugar levels.
• 19% of men were obese.
• 16% of women were obese.
• 13% reported having high stress levels.
• 10% drank alcohol excessively.
• 9% have high blood pressure.
• 5% are smokers.
Most likely some of these factors are understated because it can be difficult to get people to admit to their vices, particularly in surveys conducted for or by their employers.
On a positive note, 61% of the city’s workforce is rated as having good health ((BMI scores, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar.)
The article stated that the city’s Wellness Works program has been offered to about 1,200 employees at a cost of $144 per employee, plus incentives given to the employees for achieving certain goals. This is a significant cost to taxpayers (at least $175,000 per year); however, it is reportedly offset by lower insurance premiums and increased productivity.
This seems to be a reasonable and well-thought out investment.
City officials also indicated that previous reports were used for targeting areas where the collective group of employees needed assistance.
Another well-thought out strategy.
The article dealt with a sensitive issue and the reporter covered it in a positive manner; however, the topic deserves additional consideration.
• If the city employees are representative of the health of the healthiest city in the U.S., what does that say about the health and fitness of the U.S.?
• How valuable are the rankings and polls that ranked Boulder as the fittest in the U.S.? Are their broad criteria for developing health and fitness rankings so general that the results are virtually useless? Does it really matter if Boulder is more fit than Montgomery, Alabama?
• How many other employers in Boulder are proactive in addressing the health and fitness of their employees? How do the health and fitness of their workers compare to the city employees?
• Is it appropriate to provide incentives for wellness or should that be part of the employee’s performance reviews?
There is a lot to consider.
Having said that, the article quoted a city spokesperson as saying, “Now that we know that, we are actually encouraging supervisors that if they’re going to have food at meetings…they’re trying to have healthier options.”
Hopefully the spokesperson was misquoted or quoted out of context.
Mandating carrot sticks, broccoli spears, or bagels without cream cheese at meetings will not improve the health of the city of Boulder workers.
Health and fitness are lifestyle decisions. Effective employer health and fitness programs will do more than lower insurance programs, they will alter the way people live their lives at home and work.
