Shape Up RI Informational Meetings December 4
Come to a meeting for corporations and private educational and non-profits organizations.
Learn about the state-wide, team-based wellness competition that helps your employees and your company reach their wellness goals
Shape Up RI, a non-profit organization, started by Brown University Medical School student Rajiv Kumar, has grown from 2,000 participants in 2006 to 12,000 in 2008. The overwhelming success of the program comes from power of teamwork and peer support that motivates and inspires lifestyle changes that increase activity and healthy eating.
In 2008, Shape Up RI's over 12,000 participants competed on over 1,400 teams to see which team could lose the greatest percentage of weight, log the most hours of physical activity, and walk the highest number of pedometer steps over the 12-week program. Participants attended over 200 free events and received weekly newsletters with competition updates, exercise and nutrition information.
At final count, over 5 million steps had been taken and 39,000 pounds lost. The average participant lost 7.4 lbs. The success of the 2008 Shape Up RI competition saved Rhode Islanders an estimated $1.2 million in healthcare and pharmaceutical claims.*
Over 60 corporations and organizations including CVS/Caremark, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Brown University, Lifespan, GTECH, as well as many smaller organization with as few as 10 employees, competed in Shape Up RI.
The Informational Meeting
The meeting
will explore how organizations like yours have succeeded with Shape Up RI in getting employees on track to live healthier, more active lives. Extensive information will be provided on the program including how you can can register for this team-based competition that begins January 2009.
Please email info@shapeupri.org or call (401) 421-0608 to learn more about this innovative community based wellness campaign.
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* An individual’s BMI is highly correlated with medical and pharmaceutical claims costs. A decrease in an employee’s BMI by one point is associated with a $202.30 decrease in medical and pharmaceutical claims costs over one year (Association of Healthcare Costs With Per Unit Body Mass Index Increase, Dee Edington, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2006). A decrease of 6,334.2 BMI points in an employee population over one year would result in a decrease in medical claims and pharmaceutical costs of $1,281,408. This does not include significant cost-savings associated with decreased absenteeism and worker’s compensation claims and increased productivity, morale, and retention.
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