JEFFERSONVILLE MAYOR MIKE MOORE ANNOUNCES 100 DAY WELLNESS CHALLENGE
If you made a resolution to get fit this year, Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore is offering a new program to help you reach your goals. The Live Healthy Challenge is a way for city employees and residents to make lifestyle changes in the coming year.
"I want Jeffersonville to be a healthy and active community. This program provides an easy, cost-efficient way to kick-start physical activity and improved nutrition. Through programs like this one and the Mayor's Fitness Council we have a goal to make our community healthy," said Moore.
The program is in conjunction with an online platform from the non-profit Live Healthy America, which allows for the formation of teams to track physical activity, weight loss, or both from January 28 through April 5, 2013. It also provides meal plans, video workouts, healthy recipes and nutrition and wellness resources. Live Healthy America charges $20.00 for each participant and includes a year-long subscription to a national lifestyle magazine and a t-shirt. Registration is open.
Moore is encouraging city employees to participate and hopes local businesses will do the same. "We are striving for a healthy workplace. I am challenging city employees to join me in by taking part in this program. One way we can help drive down lifestyle-related health care costs is to create and sustain an environment of wellness in City Hall," said Moore who noted that the Building Authority installed a shower on the third floor for employees to utilize. "If we want employees to become more physically active, we need to make it more convenient for them to exercise and achieve a healthy lifestyle. The city's health insurance costs place a heavy burden on the city budget. One way to lessen that burden is to encourage our employees to make changes in their lifestyle."
Indiana was named the 15th most obese state in the country, according to a 2011report from Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Meanwhile, Indiana's adult obesity rate is 29.1 percent.
“Research shows that exercise at work works,” said Moore. According to a federal study, worksites and offices with a physical activity program reduced their costs by 20 percent to 50 percent, reduced short-term sick level by 6 percent to 32 percent and increased productivity by 2 percent to 52 percent.
The 10-week challenge is a team-centric program focused on activity and weight management. "It will be a fun, inspirational way to achieve your wellness goals," said Moore. "I am issuing a challenge to everyone to join. By actively taking part in the program participants can motivate, educate and empower themselves to make positive and lasting lifestyle changes to achieve optimal health."