Show us your Healthy Selfie! A Federal Workforce Campaign

With over 150 million workers in the US, the workplace has become an important setting to reach individuals, promote health and foster a healthy work environment. In 2014, CDC, the nation’s leading public health organization, led and implemented an eight-week physical activity (PA) and nutrition challenge. The challenge targeted CDC’s ~19,000 public health employees, located in domestic and international field settings, to be more active, make healthier food choices and achieve work-life balance. In collaboration with internal and external partners, the Show us your Healthy Selfie! Challenge encouraged participants to complete 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and nutrition goals for six out of eight weeks. Approximately 4,262 employees signed up for the challenge via an online website and 1,557 completed the challenge by submitting PA and nutrition logs. CDC’s organizational structure, made up of 15 different Centers, Institute, and Offices (CIO) encouraged CIO directors to participate and engage management at all levels including the delegation of established champions that served as point of contacts for challenge information. An additional 88 team captains were identified within CIOs to help support their champion, disseminate event and health information, motivate and encourage participants to meet their goals. Added components of the Challenge included the formation of wellness committees, CIO recognition (gold, silver, bronze) and healthy selfie posts. Results showed a total of 3,569,370 minutes of PA logged, 12 wellness committees formed, and 12 CIO medals awarded. Additional survey results will be shared including facilitators and barriers to communication, implementation and evaluation.