Vitality Institute Commission Forum
Business for Health:
Fostering Healthy Workplaces
William Rosenzweig, Commission Chair
January 7, 2014 | Denver, Colorado
The Vitality Institute's mission is to advance knowledge about
the evolving science and art of prevention and health
promotion in order to build healthier societies.
The US performs poorly in health
Average body mass index in 17 peer countries
Source: National Research Council and Institute of Medicine Report: U.S. Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Health (2013)
And places low on health rankings
US Ranks 43rd in Health
Source: Human Capital Report 2013 published by Mercer and the World Economic Forum
BUT the best health is possible and desirable
Death by Zip Code: Obesity
States Taking vs. Not Taking Medicaid Expansion
35
State
Obesity
(% of Adult Population)
Colorado
Massachusetts
20.5
22.9
Hawaii
Arkansas
Mississippi
Louisiana
23.6
34.5
34.6
34.7
30
States with
Medicaid
Expansion
25
Lowest
Ranking
20
15
Highest
Ranking
States without
Medicaid
Expansion
10
5
0
Adult obesity
Source: America’s Health Ranking Report 2013
Smoking
Source: Pomeranz, J., 2013.
Hypertension
Local organizations should promote health
Obesity by County
Source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington (2011)
And employers should encourage efforts to
improve health
Sufficient Physical Activity by County
Source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington (2011)
The Vitality Institute Commission on Health
Promotion and the Prevention of Chronic Disease in
Working Age Americans
Aim: Place the power of evidence-based prevention at the
center of health care policies and actions in the US.
Commission Forum Series: Hosting a series of Commission
Forums across the US in 2013 & 2014 to
convene leaders in key topic areas and to
provide input into the Commission.
Application of Findings Globally: Plans to apply findings
and recommendations to other markets in 2014.
Commissioners, Experts and Observers
Commissioners
Commission Experts
Commission Observers
Initial Commission Findings
• Global burden of disease data analysis demonstrates:
– Minimizing high disease risks in working age adults can improve
the effectiveness of workplace health programs.
– Largest medical cost savings are associated with reducing
cardiovascular disease risk factors.
• Disease prevention and health promotion are
undervalued across the board:
– NIH spends 2% on funding towards preventing chronic diseases.
– Health-contingent programs’ reasonable design may undermine
efficacy if not appropriately implemented.
– Health promotion is often unaddressed in law and public policy
education.
Emerging Commission Recommendations
1. Look to the Evidence: Promoting health creates wealth
2. Federal funding towards health promotion should be
amplified to build the prevention evidence base
3. Technological health innovations combined with behavioral
economic approaches will encourage new ways of thinking
4. Organizations should encourage healthy behaviors to
increase business productivity and intellectual leadership
5. Health promotion and prevention policies should be
amplified and aligned through effective legislation
6. Agriculture, education and urban design sectors can be
activated to accelerate the positive impacts of health
promotion and prevention
Business for Health: Fostering Healthy Workplaces
Denver, Colorado | January 7, 2014
Today’s Objectives
(1) Convene leaders and experts to further establish an organized voice for prevention
(2) Provide input into findings and recommendations of the Commission
Session Format
Panel Discussion 1:
Why do we need healthy workplaces? How can we help businesses create healthy workforces?
Panel Discussion 2:
Do workplace health programs work? How can they more effectively engage communities?
Commission Recommendations