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Worksites are the work horses of preventative health programs

"Most of the chronic diseases and deaths in Westernized societies are not caused by genetics or some act of God. They're the direct result of poor nutrition, lack of physical activity and tobacco use."
-- Steven Aldana, Ph.D.

In a 2006 survey, the Business Roundtable reported health care was by far the greatest cost concern for companies. In fact, it led the cost concern pack at 43 percent with the cost of litigation following at a distant second.

With that business concern in mind, we interviewed Dr. Steven Aldana, a national expert on healthy lifestyles and the author of more than 60 scientific papers and seven books including the bestselling book, The Culprit and The Cure (Maple Mountain Press, 2005). Following is a question and answer with Dr. Aldana on one of America's top challenges: health and chronic disease.

Q: How have changes in diet and physical activity affected the health of the average American worker?

A: Before the 1900s, people spent most of their time preparing meals and gathering, growing, harvesting and preserving food. Physical labor was the norm and the primary mode of transportation was walking. People consumed food close to its natural form with whole wheat breads, fruits, vegetables and grains as the source of most carbohydrates and fats. Meat was eaten sparingly. Contrast that with today's environment and lifestyle of unhealthy eating and sedentary living. Fast food slogans have become part of the American lexicon and we work diligently to avoid physical activity. We have computers, dishwashers and escalators for that. These societal changes have altered our lives so much that the causes of death so common a century ago have been almost entirely replaced by the disease of affluence -- chronic disease associated with an unlimited supply of inexpensive food and little need for physical activity.

Q: Why is there so much misinformation about healthy eating?

A: One of the unfortunate side effects of living in a capitalistic society is that aggressive producers of goods have the financial need to convince citizens to purchase their products. Despite scientific evidence that supports the need to consume whole grains and cereals, food makers claim that "Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs" breakfast cereal is part of a healthy breakfast. Persuasive marketing only adds to confusion we feel about making healthy choices. When looking for guidelines, get information from governments, nonprofit organizations and colleges or universities. For example, the Healthy Eating Pyramid is based on enormous amounts of scientific research. Let science be your guide.

Q: With a health care system that's really a disease care system, and an insurance industry set up to support it, what will drive behavior change in America?

A: What I find to be one of the most interesting twists in our capitalist society is that worksites, not medical professionals, have played the largest role in helping people improve their lifestyles. Worksites with health promotion programs are helping employees adopt healthy lifestyles so they have less chronic disease, are absent less and have fewer health care costs. And this trend is expected to grow as skyrocketing health care costs for employer organizations leave few alternatives.

Q: How does the health of an employee affect employers?

A: Employers are discovering that the total cost of health care for employees is directly related to the health of their employees. Employers who actively help employees stay healthy have better employees and save in health care costs. A healthy employee is happier and can actually save a company money.

Dr. Steven Aldana is a former professor of lifestyle medicine at Brigham Young University and founder and president of the Lifestyle Research Group. He has examined the prevention, arrest and reversal of America's most common chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancers and diabetes. His most recent book, The Culprit and The Cure, is being used by more than 4,500 business organizations to boost productivity and reduce employee related health expenses.