Cambia Health Solutions Recognized as an American Heart Association Fit-Friendly Worksite

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambia Health Solutions has been recognized for the fifth consecutive year as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association, for helping employees eat better and move more. With this honor, Cambia becomes the only Oregon business recognized in each of the award's five years. Additionally, with more than 5,000 employees across four states, Cambia becomes one of less than 40 companies nationwide to receive this honor five consecutive times.

"Physical activity and employee wellness are important priorities at Cambia. We are honored and excited to be recognized by the American Heart Association as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite," said Mark Ganz, Cambia president and CEO. "We're committed to providing the best workplace environment possible. This will benefit our employees' health and produce even more positive results for our worksite overall."

Platinum-level employers like Cambia:

• Offer employees physical activity options in the workplace.
• Increase healthy eating options at the worksite.
• Promote a wellness culture in the workplace.
• Implement at least nine criteria outlined by the American Heart Association in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and culture.
• Demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness.

As part of its dynamic wellness program, Cambia offers employees many options to engage in health-promoting activities, from walking contests to stress reduction to discounted healthy cafe fare. And in 2012 for the first time, Cambia employees who participated in a wide range of healthy activities received discounts on their share of health insurance premium.

The Fit-Friendly Worksites program is a catalyst for positive change in the American workforce by helping companies make their employees' health and wellness a priority.

American employers lose an estimated $225.8 billion a year because of health care expenses and health-related losses in productivity, and those numbers are rising. Many American adults spend most of their waking hours at sedentary jobs. Lack of regular physical activity raises their risk for a host of medical problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Employers face $12.7 billion in annual medical expenses from obesity alone. The American Heart Association is working to change corporate cultures by motivating employees to start walking, which has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.

Recognition is a critical component of the Fit-Friendly Worksites program. Employers that join this program qualify for official recognition by the American Heart Association (AHA). They are listed on the program's national website, as well as on materials for local AHA activities throughout the year such as the annual Heart Walk. Qualifying worksites also have the right to use the program's annual recognition seal for internal communications and with external, recruitment-related communications.

"The Fit-Friendly Worksites Program offers a unique, easy-to-implement opportunity for corporations to increase employees' physical activity, which will help improve their health – and their employers' bottom line," said Amy Walloch, who leads Cambia's worksite wellness program. "Even people who haven't exercised regularly until middle age can reap significant benefits by starting a walking program. A study published in 1986 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that some adults may gain two hours of life expectancy for every hour of regular, vigorous exercise they performed."

For more information about the Fit-Friendly Worksites program and how it is helping to improve the health of Americans by focusing on an activity that is convenient, free and easy, call 503-233-0100 or visit startwalkingnow.org.

About Cambia Health Solutions
Cambia Health Solutions is a nonprofit total health solutions company based in the Pacific Northwest/Intermountain region, serving consumers and communities for nearly 100 years. Cambia companies provide a wide range of products and services, including health care information technology and software development, retail health care, health insurance, life insurance, pharmacy benefit management, consumer engagement and wellness.

About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America's No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or join us, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or any of our offices around the country, or visit heart.org.

SOURCE Cambia Health Solutions