Health & Wellness Special Section

'Tis the popular season to think about healthful living

Weight management key component of OSU Center for Wellness and Prevention

It's that time of year again -- the best time or the worst time, depending on how you look at it.

As temperatures ease upward, the trees will bud and flowers will bloom. Spirits will lift, outdoor activities will increase and, perhaps best of all, vacations will be scheduled.

It will be time to trade in turtlenecks and wool pants for short sleeves, lightweight fabrics and, come summer, swimsuits. And there's the tricky part: While shedding those winter wardrobes, plenty of people will be reminded that they want to shed a few pounds, as well.

For a decade now, the Comprehensive Weight Management Program at Ohio State has come to the aid of those who want to -- or, more specifically, need to -- lose weight, not so much for appearance's sake, but so they can lead more healthful lives.

The program is available to faculty and staff as well as community members, and focuses on lifestyle changes that result in reduced and healthfully maintained weight, said its director, Shirley Kindrick.

Lifestyle in central Ohio has gotten a lot of attention recently for its detrimental effects on our health and weight profile, Kindrick noted. She cited the availability of fast food and a hectic lifestyle as major contributors to the girth growth in the region.

"The work ethic makes people think they have to work all the time, but not take care of themselves," she said. "The No. 1 refrain from patients that I hear is, ÔI don't have time.' When I hear that, I explain that research shows that five- to 10-minute intervals of movement several times a day can have significant benefits. You don't have to go out and exercise for 30 or 60 minutes all the time."

Carrying extra weight can contribute to myriad health problems; Kindrick noted that 85 percent of those with Type 2 diabetes are considered overweight.

The weight tends to creep up on people if they aren't paying attention to their behavior, Kindrick said. "I see a lot of people with 100 extra pounds that they said crept on gradually over 10 years," she said.

Reversing that trend is a goal of the program.

Offered at three locations -- Downtown, near campus and in Grove City -- the Comprehensive Weight Management Program combines medically managed programs run by health experts, trained nutrition specialists and on-site physicians providing supervision of patients and their weight management plans. Lifestyle classes teach patients how to live more healthfully, and are combined with nutrition education and the availability of exercise classes. Surgery and drug therapy treatment options are available to those who need to lose 100 pounds or more.

The program is a major component of the OSU Center for Wellness and Prevention operated through the Medical Center and housed in the Camera Center at 2050 Kenny Road. The center provides a number of opportunities for individuals seeking to enhance or maintain their health, and operates the exercise facility available to those in the Comprehensive Weight Management Program.

"The center is a combination of services, and all programs combine exercise, nutrition and behavior," said Trish Neel, program manager at the center. "We're medically oriented, and offer services primarily for people who already have problems or major risk factors."

The two other major components of the center are cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, primarily serving patients referred to the center by their physicians. The center provides a number of opportunities for people who wish to enhance or maintain their health. The staff includes health professionals such as dietitians, exercise physiologists, nurses, physicians, behavioral psychologists, respiratory therapists and health educators.

HR wellness program encourages risk reduction

If preventive health is the wave of the future, the Ohio State Faculty and Staff Wellness Program is the way to that future.

Sponsored by the Office of Human Resources and directed by Managed Health Care Systems, the wellness program is designed to help employees reduce their health risks through health risk assessment, education, goal setting and referral.

Reduced absenteeism, an increased sense of community and retention of the work force are primary goals of the Faculty and Staff Wellness Program, said Marianne Robinson, program coordinator.

Robinson said that employees are taking advantage of the complementary benefits offered by the program. More than 7,800 faculty and staff have participated in the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) screening process since July 1996. For Ohio State faculty and staff only, the HRA begins with completion of a questionnaire that assesses personal health habits and family health history. It can be filled out online at www.osumhcs.com/hra/.

To complete the process, contact registered nurse Peg Cook of the wellness program at 688-0703 and schedule an appointment at the University Health Connection. Appointments include a blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and height/weight check, along with a report of current health status.

But the HRA is just the tip of the wellness iceberg. The initiative is rounded out by a variety of educational programs and wellness events.

The Lunch and Learn series offers free noontime educational meetings on many popular topics.

"I call it the softer side of wellness," Robinson said. "It's not as clinical in nature, and we explore the complementary side of wellness with topics such as yoga, nutrition, Tai Chi, herbal supplements and meditation as a stress reliever."

Other activities sponsored by the wellness program include:

• Wellness Tips: Those who have requested their name be included on the wellness listserv receive a weekly e-mail message offering a health and wellness tip on a wide range of issues pertaining to exercise and fitness, nutrition, prevention, safety, spirituality, and stress and well-being.

• Flu Vaccinations: Free flu vaccinations are offered each November to faculty and staff.

• Wellness Ambassadors: Currently 35 employees throughout the University with an interest in health and wellness volunteer as a liaison between their department or unit and Robinson to help identify health concerns. Programs are designed for those areas and screenings are set up based on the ambassadors' feedback.

• Walking Program: Noon walking programs are offered in partnership with the Faculty and Staff Fitness Program at Larkins Hall. Participants meet once a month on the steps of the Main Library to walk and to receive tips on stretching, proper footwear and proper walking techniques led by exercise physiologist Jae Westfall.

• Women's and Men's Health Series: An educational series on women's health issues was recently completed, while a series of four focused noon sessions for men will be held in May.

Robinson said the wellness program continues to expand, having recently completed a series of Complementary Movement Pilot Programs. In partnership with the somatic studies program in the College of Education, four consecutive noon classes are offered at different locations around campus to promote and increase awareness of the benefits of movement through yoga, proper breathing and stretching, she said. The first series has concluded, with a new series set for April at three new locations.

For more information on upcoming wellness events and screenings, or to complete your online HRA, call 293-9355 or visit the Web at www.osumhcs.com/wellness.htm.

-- By Randy Gammage

Assistance program designed for those experiencing personal distress

Employees who are sometimes overwhelmed by issues such as stress, substance abuse, marital conflict or financial concerns can receive free counseling through the University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (UFSAP).

Sponsored by the Office of Human Resources and directed by Managed Health Care Services, the assistance program is a confidential counseling service developed for people experiencing some form of personal distress which may interfere with work performance, said Robert Meier, Behavioral Health Administrator with Managed Health Care Systems.

"Our mission is to provide counseling and referrals as well as training to University employees before their problems get out of control," Meier said.

He said the assistance program has been growing steadily since its inception in 1995, and handles 2,500 sessions per year.

Employees seeking assistance can initiate the process by calling UFSAP and speaking to a licensed professional counselor. Counselors assess the problem, identify possible solutions, and either meet with clients in person or refer them to additional resources if necessary.

Meier said that UFSAP's current initiative is to encourage managers and/or supervisors to recommend that faculty or staff use the assistance program if personal or work-related problems begin to interfere with their staff's job performance.

"If a person is having problems at home, they tend to bring them to work," Meier said.

UFSAP can provide assistance for a full scope of problems ranging from alcohol dependency and emotional disturbances to marital and family issues. It also offers referrals for financial and legal concerns and child and elder care, and will discuss any number of problems a faculty or staff member may be experiencing.

Besides counseling, the assistance program also offers a wide array of training sessions covering topics such as stress reduction, effective communication skills, smoking cessation and depression in the workplace. Program staff are available to conduct on-site training seminars at individual departments or units throughout the University, and continue to educate on health and wellness issues through the quarterly NETWELL newsletter distributed to all University faculty and staff.

Services are voluntary, free and confidential, Meier said, and are available to all faculty and staff, or members of their immediate family. Referrals to outside agencies that may be necessary for ongoing counseling, hospitalization or the resolution of other problems are often covered by University health insurance plans.

For details or a consultation, call 293-2442, or visit the Web at www.ohr.ohio-state.edu/benefits/UFSAP.htm.

-- By Randy Gammage

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