Unhealth in the United States, a Serious Issue

The United States was once one of the most healthiest countries in the world ranking second, but after some years the United States has plummeted to rank thirty-seven. The current problem of poor health in the United States is caused by the United States government’s lack of innovation in keeping America healthier that has damaged every American’s evolution to stay healthy in the day and age of technology. According to The State of Obesity there are now four states that have over thirty-five percent of their citizens who are obese, all states having above twenty percent obesity rates and thirty percent in twenty-five states. All together over thirty-five percent of the United States population is obese (including super obese) that and of

Allow employees to register for company-sponsored classes and programs to help them manage their weight, reduce stress, stop smoking, and manage other health

The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010 to make sure that most people had medical insurance. With this new healthcare system came the responsibility that individuals would have to take initiatives to try to stay or get healthy. The preventative care portion included in the Affordable Car Act is a big item and very important in health care reform and very positive for the American people. Wellness in the workplace has become a very important issue to help reduce companies medical cost, and to help employees get on track to know their numbers, get healthy, and have a positive healthy mental attitude. Many employees do not understand or know how to get healthy and live a healthy lifestyle. With the rising cost of healthcare relating to

The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, with the intent of ensuring that most people in the United States have medical insurance. With this new healthcare system came the responsibility that individuals would have to take initiatives in an effort to stay healthy or at the least, increase their level of activity and health awareness, making them more responsible for their own wellness. The preventative care portion included in the Affordable Care Act is one of the fundamental items of the law and is a particularly meaningful, very positive attribute in health care reform for the American people. Wellness in the workplace has become an essential issue to help reduce companies’ medical cost, and to help employees get on track to know their numbers, get healthy, and have a positive healthy mental attitude. Many employees do not understand or know how to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. With the rising cost of healthcare, especially relating to people not taking care of their bodies, wellness in the workplace has become even more critical. Author Lori Breiner (2007) “believes wellness in the workplace has economic benefits for organizations, because if workers are healthy, they miss less time from work.” Breiner’s theory would suggest that better health increases productivity and profits in the workplace.

General motors have a great wellness program that keeps their workforce healthy. They use a program called LifeSteps which helps employees identify controllable health risk.

The United States has encountered numerous problems throughout its history. An ongoing problem that has affected millions of Americans is poor health. Poor health can be defined as two things: unstable mental state or unstable physical state. The United States of America has experienced both of these characteristics with its citizens. Americans have been hit hard with these health issues for decades. America is one of the unhealthiest countries in the world and many people do not understand why. There is a strong correlation between mental health and physical health. One health issue can lead to another, which in-turn, makes people feel as if they are trapped in a horrific cycle of living in poor conditions. This causes people to feel insecure about themselves emotionally and physically, creating disgust in themselves. One of the most challenging objectives for individuals is engaging in physical activity. This is the reason why health is an issue in America. Individuals who lack physical health can eventually lead to depression and other psychological issues and vice versa.

Because we understand the importance of health, we decided to implement a health and wellness program for our employees. However, we didn’t just want to give boring lectures and hand out

Getting older can bring health challenges. By being aware of these common chronic conditions, you can take steps to stave off disease as you age.

Optum. (2013). Optum research study: Reducing health risks with corporate wellness programs. White Paper. Retrieved from http://www.optum.co.uk/content/dam/optum/resources/whitePapers/091913-ORC-health-risk-reduction-study.pdf

Eldercare Market- This market is growing considerably annual as the baby boomer generation is starting to retire. By 2030, the US Census Bureau predicts, almost a fifth of the population will be over the age of 65.

Benavides noted that “wellness programs are not a quick fix solution to years of employee disregard for their health condition. In most cases at least a two year window is necessary to begin to see positive results. In any case, it is an option that provides a sustainable way to lower health care costs and improve the physical and mental well being of employees.” Under Obama’s Affordable Care Act, $15 billion over 10 years and another $2 billion each year to follow was allotted for healthcare and evidence-based outcomes (to generate and fund such wellness incentives as this paper proposes). Likewise, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allotted $160 billion total toward healthcare and wellness with $650 million specifically granted to address chronic disease strategies.

Introduction: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) contains different policies that are pertinent to expanding health care access when needed, re-shaping insurance and market system, extending the health workforce, reducing the financial burden, and improving quality of care and life. Moreover, the aim of the new law is not only to help people when they get sick, but also to support them to enjoy the diverse initiatives and blessings of public health and preventive medicine and incentives to adopt a better and healthy life.1 Based on this fact, the wellness programs are among many of the policies under the provision of prevention/wellness of the ACA that focus on building a healthier nation by expanding the coverage for preventive services at the workplaces and thus reducing the health care cost.1,2

Millions of Americans across the country face health issues, but refuse to acknowledge them for different reasons. Some can’t afford health care; others ignore warning symptoms, and most just live everyday without paying attention to their bad habits. Society is constantly changing as time moves forward, which means health awareness is not too far behind. Medical communities are continuously working hard to keep up with health behaviors across the country. Before technology took the lead telephone surveillance was the best way to contact citizens in regards to how they maintained their health. Now that older measures are becoming less of an option health workers are developing more modern techniques when trying to collect data. It’s seems more people are interested in knowing how to live longer, but

Health and wellness in the work place is a vital part to a company’s success. Employees who are healthier and more productive are less likely to call out from sickness. There are not many companies that have affordable health care coverage for employees. More companies should make healthcare affordable for their employees and their family. Research has been done on how effective health and wellness programs can be in the workplace. Throughout the reading these points will be discussed. The effectiveness of health and wellness in the workplace will also be spoken of. Health and wellness activities in the workplace will be a positive move for companies and employees.

Health and wellness in the workplace is crucial to business success. Increasingly, it is recognized that the workplace itself has a powerful affect on people’s health. When people are satisfied with their job, they are more productive and tend to be healthier. When employees feel that the environment at work is negative, they feel stressed. Stress has a large impact on employee mental and physical health, and in turn, on productivity. Companies that promote healthy lifestyle habits for employees to improve their health, often take the success of the company to heart and are likely to be absent less often for health related reasons.