SAN DIEGO, March 14, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Leading personal health improvement company Healthyroads, Inc., a subsidiary of American Specialty Health (ASH) of San Diego, has awarded Diane Loffredo, MSN, RN, BC, of Miami, Fla., a $25,000 grand prize as the winner of the Healthyroads "Get Healthy! National Awards Program." Loffredo, who is director of nursing education at Mercy Hospital in Miami, shed 65 pounds, dropped six dress sizes, reduced her cholesterol and blood pressure, and improved her exercise and nutrition habits in just 12 months through the Healthyroads Coaching Program purchased by Mercy Hospital in 2006. The Healthyroads Coaching Program helps participating employees lose weight and improve health by developing healthy lifestyle habits. The program emphasizes proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management, and provides each participant with weekly or monthly telephone-based motivational and goal-oriented coaching, plus assistance in establishing and tracking their dietary, fitness, and wellness goals.
Loffredo was in a mall shopping for a smaller bathing suit when she received the phone call that she had won the $25,000 Healthyroads first place award. "I just screamed," she said.
Loffredo, who has struggled with weight gain since college, joined Mercy's Healthyroads Coaching Program in January 2006 after failing with traditional weight loss programs. "I realized I needed a different kind of approach that was focused on living a healthier life instead of just losing weight," Loffredo explained.
Just one year away from turning 50, Loffredo set an ambitious goal to lose 50 pounds by her 50th birthday. "I wanted to look good and feel healthy again before I got too old," she said. "Today I exercise daily and I'm healthier than I've been in 30 years. My doctor says I've added 10 years to my life."
Since her 65-pound weight loss, Loffredo's cholesterol has dropped 54 points, from 214 to 160, and her physician is considering taking her off her blood pressure medicine.
"Diane's results are living proof that the Healthyroads Coaching Program can make a big difference in our employees' health and in our company's future health-cost claims and premiums," said Janet Lara-Vital, CEBS, CMS, compensation and benefits manager at Mercy Hospital. Mercy Hospital implemented the program because health premiums had risen by 12 percent over the last five years.
"If we can see improvement in the health of other employees, we'll incur fewer doctor visits, hospitalizations and prescription drug claims," Lara-Vital added.
"Employers across the nation are seeing tremendous first- and second-year results from our personal health coaching program," said ASH president and chief executive officer George DeVries. "Weekly telephone coaching gives employees a partner they can trust and rely on for motivation in their challenge to lose weight and live a healthier life. We envision a time in the not-too-distant future when all employers will understand the immense potential that personal health coaching and health improvement offers for reducing health claims and health premiums."
Loffredo, along with runner-up Brian Walkowski, was recognized at ASH's annual corporate banquet held March 10 in San Diego. Walkowski, an information specialist with EDS in Amherst, N.Y., was presented with a $5,000 cash prize for his commitment and participation in the program, which helped him lose almost 40 pounds. After joining the program, his blood pressure dropped from dangerously high to almost normal, his triglycercides dropped 300 points and his physical stamina increased dramatically. "I went from walking 3,000 steps a day to almost 12,000 steps a day, increased my biking stamina from two miles a day to 20 miles, and went from never jogging in my life to jogging five miles," said Walkowski.
Healthyroads is one of the nation's premier personal health improvement organizations, providing wellness, fitness, health coaching and healthy living programs to health plans, employer groups and insurance carriers nationwide. Its award-winning products include the Healthyroads Coaching(tm) Programs for Weight Management and Healthy Living, Quit&Fit(tm) tobacco cessation, and Healthyroads for Kids(tm), designed to empower children and teens to live healthier lives. Healthyroads, Inc. is a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated and is based in San Diego, with regional offices in 14 other metropolitan areas. For more information, visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com or call 800-848-3555.
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