Contact Information: Contact: Kathy Wilson Tier One Partners (781) 652-0499 Twitter: @cStepsChallenge
Virgin HealthMiles Kicks Off First Phase of 2009 Obesity Awareness Initiative With Capitol Steps Challenge
U.S. Governors and Cabinet Members Compete to Earn Donations Towards Obesity Prevention Programs
| Source: Virgin HealthMiles
BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - January 5, 2009) - Virgin HealthMiles, a leader in developing employee wellness programs
that reward individuals for getting healthy, today announced the kick-off
of the Capitol Steps
Challenge, the first phase in its year-long initiative to raise
awareness around childhood
obesity in America.
Virgin HealthMiles partnered with Governor Rick Perry (Texas), who has
invited governors and their senior executive agency leaders across the U.S.
to participate in the Challenge, which runs January 1st through the 14th.
During this two-week period, these state leaders will lead by example to
raise awareness of the correlation between increased activity levels and
good health. Fourteen states, including Alabama, Alaska, California,
Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin, have joined the Challenge to put a
spotlight on this important national health issue.
Obesity is poised to be our country's next major health crisis. According
to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) analysis
of obesity prevalence among adults based on Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, 16.5 percent of the population was obese
in 1997. By 2007, the number had jumped to 25.6 percent, an increase of 155
percent. Childhood obesity is particularly alarming, having tripled in the
past two decades.
Obesity is also costly, both from a hard numbers and human impact
perspective. In 2000, the U.S. Surgeon General estimated that obesity cost
the country $117 billion in both direct and indirect costs; today, that
estimate is closer to $123 billion. Additionally, the Surgeon General's
data shows obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths each year. And
obesity-related conditions, such as heart disease, hypertension and type-2
diabetes, put further burden on the country's already-strained healthcare
system.
To raise awareness of these troubling trends, participating governors and
their teams will compete in the Capitol Steps Challenge by tracking their
daily activity for two weeks. Research has found an overwhelming amount of
evidence proving the positive relationship between physical activity and
good health. According to a U.S. Surgeon General's Report, more active
people are more energetic, more productive, and have much less chance of
developing life-threatening diseases and debilitating conditions.
"All 14 states are off to an impressive start in the Capitol Steps
Challenge and we congratulate them on drawing national awareness to the
growing issue of obesity," said Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles.
"Throughout the two-week Challenge period, Virgin HealthMiles will motivate
participants through a variety of fun activities. This helps keep
participants energized and engaged to achieve fit lifestyles and improved
health. It's a formula that's been embraced by our clients, proven
successful with our members, and already we're thrilled by our state
leaders' enthusiasm."
At the end of the Challenge, Virgin HealthMiles will declare the state team
with the highest average steps per person as the Most Active Governor's
Team in the nation and will make a $50,000 donation to that state's
childhood obesity program. The winner of the Capitol Steps Challenge will
be announced in late February at a ceremony hosted in tandem with the
National Governor's Association meeting in Washington, DC. Sir Richard
Branson will attend the ceremony and personally present the $50,000 prize
to the winning state.
The second phase of Virgin HealthMiles' obesity awareness initiative, the
State Leadership Challenge, will kick off in February and involve teams of
250 individuals from U.S. state government offices embarking on a year-long
program to increase their physical activity. State Leadership Challenge
participants will be leading by example to educate their constituents about
how increased activity levels can improve wellness. Based on activity
levels, states can earn donations of up to $125,000 toward their childhood
obesity programs. Further details of the State Leadership Challenge will be
available in February.
For more information about the Capitol Steps Challenge and to track the
progress of each state's team, visit
www.virginhealthmiles.com/capitolstepschallenge. Member of the media can
also follow the Capitol Steps Challenge on Twitter at cStepsChallenge.
About Virgin HealthMiles
Virgin HealthMiles provides employee health programs that pay people to get
active. The company's preventative approach, based on physical activity and
healthy lifestyle change, attracts an average of 40% of employees who
participate, which helps organizations reduce medical costs and improve
employee productivity and satisfaction. Over 100 industry leaders,
including American Diabetes Association/Shaping America's Health, APL
Limited, Hospital Corporation of America-Shared Services, Jack in the Box,
Louisville Metro Government, and Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, have
selected Virgin HealthMiles' award-winning program for their employees.
For more information, visit www.virginhealthmiles.com.