Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies Hold Lunchtime Walking Events Nationwide as Part of Fourth Annual National Walk @ Lunch Day(R)

WASHINGTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are working with employers across the nation to encourage their employees to take steps toward improved health and wellness.  As part of the fourth annual National Walk @ Lunch Day®, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are holding lunchtime walks across the country in an effort to promote the many benefits of incorporating regular physical activity into one's life.

"Engaging in regular physical activity such as walking is an important way to reduce one's risk of developing preventable health conditions such as heart disease and type-2 diabetes," said Scott P. Serota, president and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA).  "Blues Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to offering programs that not only help improve people's health today, but also protect against serious health problems in the future and help to control our nation's rising healthcare costs.  For that reason, we are proud to celebrate the thousands of walkers from coast to coast who are participating in National Walk @ Lunch Day."

National Walk @ Lunch Day is a component of WalkingWorks®, a Blue company program developed in 2002 with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.  National Walk @ Lunch Day encourages people to walk for 30 minutes daily during their lunch breaks to improve their health.  Most Americans' schedules are built around the workday, so lunchtime walks are designed to fit into – not compete with – their daily routine.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are hosting walks nationwide to engage employees and members of the community in healthy activity, and demonstrate that physical fitness can easily be incorporated into one's daily work schedule.  Nationwide, thousands of walkers from a wide variety of companies, organizations, and state and local governments are participating in this healthy initiative that seeks to get Americans moving and, in doing so, reduces the nation's healthcare costs.

A regular walking program can help control weight, condition the heart and lungs, reduce stress, increase energy, strengthen muscles and bones and help prevent serious chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.  Walking is also one of the most simple, affordable and effective forms of preventive healthcare.

In Washington, D.C., BCBSA and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield are co-hosting a National Walk @ Lunch Day event along the National Mall for federal government employees, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Administration's Federal Occupational Health.  Those who will be on hand to help kick-off the event in front of the Hubert H. Humphrey building include:

• Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Ned Holland, Assistant Secretary for Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
• Scott P. Serota, President and CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
• Dr. Malcolm Joseph, III, Medical Director, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
• Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), U.S. House of Representatives
• Mike Kohn, Olympic Bobsledder and Bronze Medalist; Sergeant, Virginia Army National Guard
• Adrienne Brown, Personal Trainer, National Capitol YMCA

"It's good to see so many people in the federal workforce out walking today," said Secretary Sebelius.  "Here at HHS, folks work very hard on a whole host of programs that not only help Americans when they get sick, but also help keep them from getting sick in the first place.  That message is so much more powerful when people see us out walking too."

"Walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, can help lower your risk of developing type-2 diabetes or diabetes complications, such as heart disease and amputations," said Nash Childs, PE, Chair of the Board, American Diabetes Association (ADA).  "National Walk @ Lunch Day is a good reminder that you can sneak a walk into the middle of your work day."

Nationwide, hundreds of companies, organizations, state and local governments are hosting or participating in National Walk @ Lunch Day events, such as the Nebraska Bankers Association, which has 45 community banks across Nebraska totaling more than 1175 employees.

"We are committed to providing our employees with opportunities to enhance their health and wellness," said Karen Coufal, vice president, Nebraska Bankers Association.  "We encourage employees to take 15 minutes a day to get away from their offices to walk.  Walking is the easiest way to exercise without a lot of effort and it alleviates a lot of stress.  Working together and cheering each other on has led to our success in losing nearly 200 pounds combined.  We are proud to be participating in National Walk @ Lunch Day and grateful to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska for working closely with us to bring this event to life."

Below are highlights of some of the National Walk @ Lunch Day activities taking place across the country:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina will host community events in Columbia, Charleston and Greenville.  A walking course, health and fitness information, entertainment and giveaways will be among the fun activities at each location.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) will hold a walking event outside the company's corporate headquarters in Omaha, kicked off by The Biggest Loser® former contestants, Marty Wolff and Amy Hildreth Wolff.  BCBSNE is also coordinating with businesses across the state as they organize their own National Walk @ Lunch Day events, many of which will jump start the organizations' spring walking programs.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas will hold community walking events at the State House grounds in Topeka and in downtown Wichita.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL) will hold two walking events in the city of Birmingham.  The first, a community event in a downtown Birmingham park, will host numerous employer groups, and feature vendors and exhibitors sharing health and fitness resources and giveaways.  The second event, for BCBSAL employees, will take place at the company's corporate headquarters.

Before beginning any weight loss or nutritional program or new exercise regime, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider.

For more information on National Walk @ Lunch Day, please visit http://www.bcbs.com/innovations/walkingworks/national-walklunch-day.html.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 100 million members – one-in-three of all Americans.  For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association