Area companies recognized for employee wellness programs

Thirteen area businesses have been recognized by the American Heart Association's Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program for promoting physical activity and health in the workplace.

Adult Americans spend the majority of their waking hours at work, many in sedentary careers — amplifying the risk for medical problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Obesity alone costs American businesses $12.7 billion in medical expenses and $225.8 billion in health- related productivity losses per year.

"Studies suggest that implementing a worksite physical activity program and promoting a culture of physical activity will help companies increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, lower turnover and reduce hard costs. Research shows employers can save $16 for every $1 they spend on health and wellness," Carter added.

Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program participants implement various options to encourage physical activity, nutrition and culture enhancements such as on- site walking routes, healthy food options in cafeterias and vending machines, annual employee health risk assessments and online tracking tools.

Midlands companies receiving Gold recognition are BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Gulbrandsen Chemicals Inc., Lexington Medical Center, Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals, Trane (Columbia Coil Center), Westinghouse Electric Company (Columbia), Colonial Supplemental Insurance, Nexsen Pruet, LLC, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, South Carolina Electric & Gas, Square D-Schneider Electric (Hopkins) and the University of South Carolina.

The City of Columbia achieved Platinum level status.

A special advertising section in the Oct. 27, 2008 issue of Forbes magazine will include a list of the 13 Midlands companies participating in Start!.

"These companies should be applauded," said Carl Hoefel of BOSE Corporation. "They have made big strides in an area critical to our overall health." Hoefel and Cable Best, also of BOSE Corporation, are co- chairs of this year's Start! Midlands Heart Walk.

Contact the Columbia American Heart Association at (803) 806-3092 or visit www.startmidlandssc.org.