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New health management program for teens: Awesome for employees and organizations

The prevalence of obesity has increased by more than 40 percent over the last decade and it isn't just adults suffering the consequences. Teen and adolescent obesity is also on the rise and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that more than 17 percent of youth from the ages of 12 to 19 are overweight. Research also indicates that nearly 80 percent of overweight youth become overweight adults.

While teens may not be entering the workforce for several years, they can still have an impact on your organization's health care costs through their parents: your employees. One powerful way to fight rising health care costs while helping improve the health of your employees' families is to extend wellness offerings to their dependents.

Apart from the rising costs of health care, obesity and weight issues can take a toll on self-esteem and emotional health, especially for teens and adolescents. By helping teens become healthier and happier, you may also alleviate stress and distractions that affect their parents on the job.

Helping employees with health support for their children
In January, Ceridian will introduce a new health coaching program called Ceridian Teen and Adolescent Weight Management. When a teen enrolls, they will work one-on-one with a personal health coach who will guide them through critical food and fitness lifestyle choices during a year-long program. The ideal time to give positive guidance and information about eating habits, physical activity and other lifestyle choices is when adolescents and teens are starting to make more independent decisions. This program focuses on achieving the best outcomes at a time when teens and adolescents are learning to be self-reliant.

After parental consent is granted, health coaches call their assigned participants at scheduled times during the 12-month program. Participants can contact their assigned coaches through a telephonic message service any day and time and coaches return calls within one business day. Teens and adolescents can also access medically reviewed and teen-approved information round-the-clock on the Internet for support.

Our Web site offers in-depth information including easy recipes for making healthy meals and snacks at home, advice for making healthy food choices at the grocery store and tips for choosing wisely at fast food restaurants. It also provides timely information about health, exercise, sports safety and other topics of interest to teens that reinforces the support and guidance they get from their coaches.

It's also important to note that Ceridian's health coaching program can help teens who do not suffer weight issues. Health coaching offers many benefits including information about nutrition and exercise and coaching for athletes who want to become more fit and competitive. Quite simply, good habits start young, and this health coaching program is a perfect primer for teens and adolescents.

More than just weight management is SMART
Ceridian's program goes much deeper than weight reduction alone. The good health habits teens and adolescents learn about from their health coaches can set them on a course for success well into adulthood. The program teaches participants about foods that enhance sports performance and endurance, how to avoid alcohol and other drugs, and how to prevent or quit tobacco use.

Participants are taught to set specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (SMART) goals. Health improvements are based on the following:

• Healthy eating
• Increased physical activity
• Decreased "screen" time (TV, computer, games)
• Prevention or cessation of tobacco, alcohol and drugs
• Stress management
• Positive body image
• Achieving adequate sleep

Each participant completes a satisfaction survey after the first three months and a detailed aggregate report is generated with program outcomes for employers on a quarterly basis.

Coaches can also offer help to their assigned participants when they face barriers to change or experience personal setbacks. Sometimes that's all that's needed. When problems are more serious, coaches follow referral protocols for teens and adolescents who show signs of emotional problems including suicide contemplation or symptoms of physical, sexual, emotional or illicit drug abuse.

For this momentous time in a child's life, employees can rely on the Ceridian Teen and Adolescent Weight Management program to get support and care for their loved ones -- and to set them on the path to achieving great things. And the program helps your organization reduce health care costs now and for years to come. That's a winning combination you can feel good about.

Learn more by reading a column by Ceridian's Catherine Macpherson on obesity discrimination.