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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Role of Worksite Wellness in Obesity Prevention Efforts

Wendy Johnson-Taylor, PhD, MPH, RD, Division of Nutrition Research Coordination, National Institutes of Health, 2 Democracy Plaza, Room 635, 6707 Democracy Blvd, MSC 5461, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301 594 7440, wj50v@nih.gov

In the 2001 Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, five sites were recommended for obesity prevention and treatment actions including families and communities, schools, healthcare, media communications, and worksites. To date there has been tremendous attention placed on schools, families and communities, healthcare and media with less attention being focused on worksites. The National Institute of Health's Division of Nutrition Research Coordination will host a session for the 2006 APHA annual meeting that focuses on obesity prevention efforts of worksite wellness programs. The session which will appeal to both the food and nutrition section and the occupational health and safety section, will consist of three 20 minute talks focused on the conceptual framework of wellness programs and the development of worksite obesity prevention programs in small and medium sized companies. Thirty minutes will be allotted for interactive discussion. Speakers include Dr. Ron Goetzel, Cornell University, Kimberly Hicks, Assistant Manager for the Recreation and Fitness Center at SAS Institute and Autumn Romanowski, Wellness Manager for the Peninsula Regional Medial Center. At the end of the session attendees will be able to a) describe the conceptual premise of worksite programs dedicated to prevention of obesity and overweight in the worksite, b) describe two programmatic approaches used in small and medium sized companies and including timing of program components and incentives c) evaluate the impact of worksite obesity prevention programs on the company bottom line. The session will be moderated by Wendy L. Johnson-Taylor.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Nutrition, Wellness

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Model Worksite Wellness Programs for Obesity Prevention

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA