Delta Dental Brings The Full Yield to New Hampshire

DANVERS, Mass., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- This month, Northeast Delta Dental (www.nedelta.com) becomes the first company in New Hampshire to offer its employees The Full Yield, (www.thefullyield.com), the nation's first multi-industry employee wellness program.  Stonyfield Farm, the leading organic yogurt company, (www.stonyfield.com), comes on board early next year.

"More than 50% of Americans have diet and lifestyle-caused diseases, which result in preventable suffering and skyrocketing health care costs," said Zoe Finch Totten, The Full Yield founder and CEO.  "The Full Yield helps employees make a positive shift in their diet quality and lifestyle choices, and this helps both them and the companies they work for keep health costs down -- a true win win!"

Launched in the Boston, MA, metro market last spring, The Full Yield helps employees reduce their risks for diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer while building a culture of wellness at the worksite and in the community with collaborative partners such as Northeast Delta Dental and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.  A study of employees who had been in the program for just three months found the following improvements:

• Of those with elevated cholesterol: 86% improved their level
• Of those with high body-mass index (BMI), 73% had reduced BMI
• Of those with elevated blood pressure, 85% lowered their blood pressure level
• 59% lowered their percentage of body fat

Dr. David Fairchild, Chief Medical Officer of Tufts Medical Center, says of the results: "The Full Yield Program produces results that are not only statistically significant, but also clinically relevant. The improvement in blood pressure associated with program participation is comparable to the impact of taking a blood pressure medication, yet has all of the other health benefits associated with weight reduction. These early results represent a promising strategy for combating hypertension, diabetes and other associated conditions."

"Northeast Delta Dental is proud to partner with The Full Yield to help our employees find a better, healthier way to eat," said Tom Raffio, President & CEO, Northeast Delta Dental.  "The Full Yield is to be commended for pioneering such an innovative and collaborative program."  Northeast Delta Dental employees will be able to sign up for the program through their health plan provider, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC).  The top ranking commercial health plan in the U.S., HPHC is The Full Yield's health plan partner in MA, NH and ME.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 37% of New Hampshire adults were overweight and another 25% were obese in 2007.  Fourteen percent of youth (9th–12th grades) were overweight, and 12% were obese. The medical expenses associated with adult obesity in the state cost $302 million in 2003 dollars.

The Full Yield program provides members with eight ways to feel better and improve health and quality of life:

1. The Full Yield Daily Food Prescription to eat health-supporting foods
2. Fresh Prepared Health-Supporting Meals: through food service and at retail (no requirement to purchase)  
3. Behavioral Monitoring: confidential health survey and dietary pattern survey
4. Biometric Monitoring: confidential blood and body measures
5. Health & Program Coaching: confidential unlimited phone and email support
6. Online Education: educational & cooking videos, menu plans, 1000+ health-supporting recipes
7. Physical Activity: step-based for teams and individuals
8. Social Networking to support team-based cultural change

"Together, these components provide the best approach for improving overall health and productivity, resulting in reduced absenteeism, presenteeism, and total healthcare costs. The Full Yield offers the solution we need to reduce disease and control health care costs," said Gary Hirshberg, CE-Yo of Stonyfield, which plans to offer the program to its employees early next year. "We can no longer afford to be without a culture of health and wellness. For both business and our families, it is a matter of survival."

About The Full Yield

The Full Yield, Inc. is committed to improving public health by making high-quality food, high-quality behavioral support, and high-quality education about food and health systemically sustainable. The company takes its name from farmers: if you start with high-quality seeds, protect your soil to maintain its inherent richness, water when necessary, and get lucky with the weather and the bugs, you will get a full yield—the greatest crop those seeds can produce.

For further information about the program or to become a member of The Full Yield, check with your health plan at work, or visit The Full Yield on-line at www.thefullyield.com.

SOURCE The Full Yield