CIGNA Launches Worksite Wellness Program to Help Combat Top Health Risks Facing Americans

CIGNA (NYSE:CI) has added to its already extensive arsenal of wellness programs a new worksite lifestyle improvement program to help people combat metabolic syndrome, a condition that significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The intensive, 90-day program is designed to reduce disease and improve health by helping people adopt healthy behaviors, such as increased physical activity, better eating habits, weight loss and stress reduction. One of the key elements of the program is access to a social networking site that gives participants an opportunity to share their experiences and keep one another motivated toward making healthy behavior changes.

People are considered to have metabolic syndrome if they have three or more of these risk factors: excess abdominal fat tissue, as indicated by a waist circumference greater than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women; a triglyceride count of 150 or higher; "good” cholesterol (HDL) less than 40 for men or 50 for women; elevated blood pressure of 130/85 or higher; and elevated fasting blood sugar of 100 or higher.

Left unchecked, people with these risk factors frequently develop type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Participants are coached to "know their numbers,” which are recorded at the beginning and end of the program so people can see the progress they’ve made.

"These types of programs have the potential to reduce the risk for two of the nation’s leading causes of death – diabetes and heart disease,” said David M. Kendall, M.D., chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association. "If we can prevent type 2 diabetes and heart disease from developing, we can increase the quality of life for millions of Americans and reduce the enormous economic costs in this country.”

CIGNA's Metabolic Syndrome Improvement Program consists of weekly one-hour sessions for 35 to 50 participants facilitated by a health advocate at an employer’s worksite, although sessions can also be delivered online. The facilitator helps participants understand the relationship between lifestyle and chronic disease and helps them learn to make healthy choices related to carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Some sessions focus on making those choices at the supermarket or when dining out, while other sessions focus on cardiovascular activity, strength training and stress management. The curriculum includes videos featuring renowned medical journalist Dr. Mona Khanna, and participants also have access to additional online learning modules at any time. They also receive a workbook with motivational articles, health tips, check lists and homework assignments.

In the workplace, metabolic syndrome affects about one out of three employees¹, most of whom appear healthy but have approximately seven times the risk for developing type 2 diabetes², approximately three times the risk for developing heart disease², and a greater risk of dying³ . They also spend four times as much on medication⁴ and miss twice as many days of work due to illness compared to their healthier co-workers⁵ .

Because it’s offered at the worksite, CIGNA's Metabolic Syndrome Improvement Program is convenient for employees and saves them time. It also helps create a supportive environment through an experience that’s shared among friends and colleagues.

CIGNA also offers other worksite health and wellness programs that provide convenient access to health screenings and personalized coaching from licensed, credentialed health care professionals. The company has been helping people make healthy behavior changes for more than 30 years and offers telephonic, online and onsite lifestyle management programs, including programs for tobacco cessation, weight management, stress management, nutrition, sleep and physical activity.

"The Metabolic Syndrome Improvement Program draws on the success we’ve had with our existing lifestyle management programs. It delivers a holistic experience that addresses several key health risks that, taken together, can lead to long-term, life-changing health consequences,” said Tom Richards, senior vice president and product leader for CIGNA. "By helping people focus on these risks and giving them the tools they need to change their behavior, we’re offering people an opportunity to improve their health, well-being and sense of security.”

Earlier this month, CIGNA announced that it had acquired Phoenix-based Kronos Optimal Health Company, a leader in worksite wellness. With a contracted network of approximately 13,000 health coaches, health educators and screeners across the United States, Kronos will support CIGNA's onsite programs and expand CIGNA's ability nationally to deliver onsite lifestyle management programs, face-to-face coaching, biometric screenings and health education programs.

About CIGNA

CIGNA (NYSE:CI), a global health service company, is dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries provide an integrated suite of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance, to approximately 46 million people throughout the United States and around the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com. To sign up for email alerts or an RSS feed of company news, log on to http://newsroom.cigna.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=18. Also, follow us on Twitter: @cignatweets.

¹ Metabolic Syndrome and Employer Sponsored Benefits, An Actuarial Analysis, Milliman, March 2006.

² Park Y, Zhu S, Palaniappan L et. al. The metabolic syndrome: Prevalence associated risk factor findings in the US population from the third national health and nutrition survey, 1988–1994. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:427–436.

³ Framingham Heart Study Offspring Study, Isomaa B et al. Diabetes Care. 2001: 24:683-689.

⁴ Metabolic Syndrome and Employer Sponsored Benefits, An Actuarial Analysis, Milliman, March 2006.

⁵ Sullivan, Patrick W (PW); Ghushchyan, Vahram (V); Wyatt, Holly R (HR) et. al. Productivity costs associated with cardiometabolic risk factor clusters in the United States, The Journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, 2007 Nov-Dec; vol 10 (issue 6): pp 443-50.