Blue Cross do.® Campaign Makes Physical Activity Messages Available in Spanish

EAGAN, Minn., June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With more than 60 percent of Minnesotans overweight or obese, and many racial or ethnic groups suffering disproportionately from obesity and its related health conditions, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota's (Blue Cross) do Campaign now offers its motivational "do" physical activity messages in Spanish.

Blue Cross' do Campaign, encourages Minnesotans to "groove your body every day" to prevent a host of health problems. Workplaces and community groups interested in promoting wellness can download from the do-groove.com website, a "to do list" – a tips card loaded with ideas on how to move more and eat better – in Spanish, as well as five new posters.  These materials are great for use in worksites or facilities to help remind employees and patrons to make the active choice for better health.  The poster messages are lighthearted and fun, such as:

• Cavemen: They had no cars. They had no escalators.  They had no love handles.
• Avoid awkward silences.  Next time take the stairs.
• Instead of carbon footprints, leave real ones.
• Don't let the machines win, take the stairs.
• Welcome to perfect walking weather: 365 days a year.

While the messages are creative and meant to grab peoples' attention, there's a serious message behind them: not getting enough physical activity and carrying too much weight can increases risk for high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, and colon cancer.

"Minnesota offers many opportunities to be physically active, yet according to a recent Blue Cross study, we found 3 in 10 adults who live here still don't get enough physical activity and 8 in 10 adults don't eat enough fruits and vegetables daily," said Marc Manley, M.D., chief prevention officer for Blue Cross. "These unhealthy habits are taking an enormous toll on our quality of life and pocketbooks. These new Spanish posters are positive reminders to make the healthy choice and one way we're helping make it easier for people improve their health."

Through television commercials and community programs, Blue Cross' do Campaign has raised awareness about the importance of physical activity and healthy eating since 2004. It is funded entirely by Blue Cross' settlement proceeds from its historic lawsuit against the tobacco companies. Other programs and services Blue Cross offers to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight include: sponsoring the public bicycle-sharing program Nice Ride Minnesota; funding community projects to improve access to healthy foods in schools and underserved communities; supporting new laws like Complete Streets to make communities more walkable and bikeable; and providing tools on bluecrossmn.com that can help members achieve a healthy weight.

To download the new Spanish posters visit the do-groove.com website and click on "do at work" and "do posters." Additional tips on staying active and eating healthy can also be found on that website or on Blue Cross' do Campaign Facebook page. For more information about Blue Cross' many prevention efforts, go to bluecrossmn.com/preventionminnesota.

do.® is a registered trademark of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today as a health company: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. Blue Cross is a not-for-profit, taxable organization. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to bluecrossmn.com to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota