SAN DIEGO, Feb. 6, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- American Specialty Health (ASH), one of the nation's premier personal health improvement organizations, recently held a contest in which two-thirds of its staff competed in a month-long "walk-off" against ASH CEO and Chairman George DeVries and COO and President Bob White.
Of ASH's 610 employees, 403 "stepped it up" in a contest designed to boost physical activity and wellness in a time when obesity trends are at their highest.
Statistics show that over two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, and it is thought that sedentary living is partly to blame for this alarming statistic. In light of this trend, ASH held the "I Stepped It Up With George and Bob" challenge to improve the health and increase the physical activity of its staff. Studies have found that a healthier workforce is more productive and can help save employers money on health care costs. The contest was presented to employees as a fun way to invoke a spirit of camaraderie, compete in a friendly game with executive management, and drum up interest in exercise.
After contributing a $20 copay, participating employees were provided with wireless activity monitors that tracked the number of steps they walked. Special sensors were placed throughout the building to collect that data every time an employee walked by. This data was then sent to a personalized Web site, which allowed employees to track their progress online. It also helped to create a buzz around the office as participants discussed their daily goals and successes with fellow coworkers.
Initially, the contest goal was to walk 150,000 steps over the course of a month (roughly 5,000 steps a day). Due to the poor air quality and suspended business resulting from the San Diego wildfires, however, this goal was lowered to 120,000 steps. Of the 403 employees who signed up for the contest, 287 successfully achieved the goal. Those who achieved or surpassed this goal were awarded with a T-shirt proclaiming their victory and a cash reward incentive of $25.
Many ASH employees went above and beyond the requirement, with seven employees even reaching 400,000 steps, and three walking more than 500,000 steps. One employee even topped 600,000 steps over the contest period! In total, the winners of the contest walked 59,079,847 steps over 31 days.
ASH CEO and Chairman George DeVries and President and COO Bob White were both successful in the challenge. The executive team's participation in the contest is a testament to the company's focus on health and wellness.
ASH's Wellness Consulting Services team spearheaded the challenge. This department works closely with client employer groups to improve their employees' health. The team used this contest as a testing board to see how well it would work before rolling out a similar plan to future clients. Testing the challenge in-house allowed ASH to assess the amount of time, energy, money, and staff that is needed to produce a similarly successful contest.
About American Specialty Health
American Specialty Health Incorporated is one of the nation's premier personal health improvement organizations, providing specialty benefit programs, fitness programs, health coaching and incentives, Internet solutions, and worksite wellness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide.
Based in San Diego, ASH has over 600 employees and covers more than 13.4 million members in specialty benefit, fitness, and coaching programs. For more information, visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.