Employee Health Promotion

Program available is consistent with scientific and healthcare recommendations for weight loss, reflects a multi-disciplinary approach which offers four components: behavioral, exercise, diet, and maintenance, and is in accordance with the document Guidance For Treatment Of Adult Obesity. It includes:

• Screening to verify that the attendant has no medical or psychological conditions which would make weight loss inappropriate, and to identify the attendant’s level of health risk, classifying participants not only on excess body weight, but also on the basis of associated medical conditions and central heath risk.
• Referral for participants who are morbidly obese who would require healthcare guidance for weight loss.
• Informed consent, explanation of potential physical and psychological risk from weight loss and regain, likely long-term success of program, full cost of the program, credentials of the employee.
• Identification of contributing factors to attendant’s weight status, serving as the basis for an individualized weight loss plan which includes the weight objective and plans for diet, exercise, and behavioral components.
• Weight objective of attendant is reasonable based on personal and family weight history not solely on height and weight charts; initial weight loss objective does not exceed loss of 10% of body weight, 1-2 pounds per week.
• Explanation of unsafe weight loss methods.
• Daily calorie level is adjusted to meet each attendant’s recommended rate of weight loss.
• Daily caloric intake is not less than 1,000 calories; if less, physician monitoring is necessitated.
• Food plan designed so participants can choose foods which meet 100% of all the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) except for calories. Nutritional supplementation can be used to achieve RDAs, however ought to not greatly exceed RDAs.
• Nutrition education encouraging permanent healthful eating habits based on The Food Guide Pyramid.
• Participant involved in meal planning and diet selection.

The protein, fat, carbohydrate, and fluid content of the diet plan meet safety recommendations: Protein Between 0.8 and 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of objective body weight, but no more than 100 grams of protein a day. Fat 10 – 30% calories as fat. Carbohydrate At least 100 grams per day. Fluid At least one liter of water daily.

• Exercise component ought to be a valuable portion of the program and be both didactic and experiential.
• Participant is appropriately screened for exercise using a assessment questionnaire such as the Par-Q Readiness Assessment (see forms). Instruction on recognizing untoward responses to exercise.
• Participants work towards 30-60 minutes of exercise 5-7 days per week.
• No appetite suppressant drugs.
• Maintenance plan available for continued backing.
• Weight control programs ought to be conducted by a registered dietitian or by degreed health professionals with training in diet with consultation by a registered dietitian.
• Trained lay leaders may assist if supervised by nutrition professional.

Note: There’s an interactive version of Guidance for the Treatment of Adult Obesity at e-Guidance for the Treatment of Adult Obesity.

A program is necessitated to offer appropriate interpretation of cholesterol assessment results, including a caution that a single measurement neither excludes nor establishes a diagnosis of their blood cholesterol. Follow national guidelines: Total Cholesterol Desirable cholesterol < 200 mg/dl Borderline cholesterol 200 – 239 mg/dl High cholesterol > 240 mg/dl HDL Desirable HDL > 35 mg/dl Low HDL < 35 mg/dl Refer cholesterol assessment participants to healthcare as follows: Total Cholesterol < 200 mg/dl Recheck cholesterol in five years, if history of coronary heart disease or if two or more CHD risk factors are detected refers to risk reduction program or health professionals, as appropriate. 200 – 239 mg/dl If history of CHD or if two or more other risk factors are detected, refer to healthcare or risk reduction service within two months; if no reported history of CVD or less than two other risk factors, reassess cholesterol status within 1-2 years. > 240mg/dl Refer to healthcare within two months. HDL > 35 mg/dl If fewer than 2 risk factors and borderline total cholesterol, refer to risk reduction service, as appropriate. Reassess HDL in 1-2 years. Provide the following:

• The relationship of blood cholesterol, elevated Blood Pressure, and other risk factors.
• Risk factors include: elevated Blood Pressure 140/90 or higher or on hypertension medication; current tobacco use; family history of premature CHD; diabetes mellitus; age – male > 45 years, female > 55 years or premature menopause without estrogen replacement therapy.
• Negative risk factor: high HDL 60 mg/dl or greater (subtract one risk factor).
• Risk factors such as family history, smoking, high fat or other unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise lead to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Definitions and causes of elevated blood cholesterol and HDL, desirable levels, the meaning and limitations of a single measurement, the cause of variability, and the need for multiple measurements prior to diagnosis.
• Wide range of treatment options, including diet (e.g., effect of controlling fat intake less than 30% of total calories from fat, less 10% saturated fats), less than 300 mg. of cholesterol per day, well-balanced diet, weight maintenance or reduction, exercise, and medication.
• Importance of following prescribed treatment and professional advice.