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Corporate Wellness Inclusion of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists: Providing Personalized Nutrition Counseling to Improve Nutrition and Lifestyle Factors
Author(s) -
Hicks Kristen,
Black Kaitlin S.,
Latortue Krista R Yoder
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.963.1
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , inclusion (mineral) , family medicine , session (web analytics) , obesity , health care , medical nutrition therapy , gerontology , psychology , business , social psychology , pathology , advertising , economics , economic growth
Growing costs for healthcare premiums and striking rise in chronic disease related to nutrition and lifestyle are leading to an unsustainable employee health environment. Employer‐sponsored wellness programs are on the rise, aiming to promote improvements in health as described by nutrition and lifestyle factors. Family Food LLC, a corporate wellness consulting company, provides Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) to over 300 different corporate locations from over 60 different zip codes as part of each company's worksite wellness programs. Since February 2016, employees (n=1,303) have seen an RDN for nutrition counseling, 73% (n=951) of whom are considered to be overweight or obese (BMI>25.0). Further classification of BMI showed 14% (BMI>40), 47% (BMI>30) and 39% (BMI>25). At each counseling session, RDN's work 1‐on‐1 with clients to set personalized nutrition, physical activity and family goals to work on improving between sessions. During each session, 99% made a personalized nutrition goal, 91% set a physical activity goal and 68% set a family goal. Of those consults, 45% (n=610) met their nutrition goal since their last counseling session and 80% (n=1049) scheduled follow up appointments. Nutrition counseling is imperative to improve a sustainable employee health environment. Inclusion of a RDN in employee‐sponsored wellness programs will improve health of employees while reducing healthcare premiums, a win‐win for both employee and employer. Support or Funding Information Family Food LLC