The Effects of a Multi-Component Wellness Program on Employee Biometrics

Corporate wellness initiatives are gaining momentum as a critical indicator of business performance. Metabolic Syndrome is commonly used within corporations to assess the health of their employees and estimate potential healthcare costs. Using five risk factors (blood pressure, high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), fasting blood glucose, and waist circumference) individuals with three or more risk factors are classified as having Metabolic Syndrome. Voluntary pre and post health screenings were conducted at a rural manufacturing plant. A multi-component wellness program was conducted over six months to determine if the program would have significant beneficial effects on employee biometrics and Metabolic Syndrome. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipids (HDL-C, LDL, TG) and fasting blood glucose were evaluated. Pre-intervention results versus post-intervention results for blood pressure (systolic p\u3c0.001, diastolic p\u3c0.05), HDL-C (p\u3c0.05), blood glucose (p\u3c0.001), and waist circumference (p\u3c0.001) were significant within the non-participant group (n=53). However, blood pressure and blood glucose increased and HDL-C decreased. In the participant group (n=22), HDL-C (p\u3c0.05), blood glucose (p\u3c0.001), waist circumference (p\u3c0.001), weight (p\u3c0.05) and TG (p\u3c0.05) significantly improved, except HDL-C, after comparing pre and post intervention results in the participant group. Metabolic Syndrome prevalence decreased in the participant group (36%, n=8 to 23%, n=5) and increased in the control group (26%, n=14 to 32%, n=17) although no significance was determined. The results support the importance and need for effective employee wellness programs that include on site health screenings