Program is making a dent in obesity problem
As a busy elementary-school teacher, Marie Kellogg says she had little time outside the classroom to focus on her health and wellness.
Eager to lose weight, she turned to the Montgomery County United Way’s workplace wellness program.
Kellogg lost 32 pounds over about nine months while experiencing drops in body fat, blood pressure and cholesterol.
“I am not the stereotypical recipient, but I would say that United Way has changed my life incredibly,” said Kellogg, a teacher at Greenleaf Elementary School in Splendora.
“I teach five classes, so I am on the go all day. It goes to a point where you lose yourself and you do not apply yourself to exercise or taking care of your health.”
In 2014-2015, its pilot year, the Healthy Living Alliance’s workplace wellness program experi-
enced measurable success at two pilot sites, Greenleaf Elementary and the city of Willis. Employees who participated in the program were offered daily group exercise, nutritional tips, general health education and health screenings. Lost up to 56 pounds
“One thing that the United Way does is have an instructor that comes in that trains you to have a healthier life. It gives you a goal — something to work for … for your body, for yourself and for your health,” Kellogg added.
A 2011 community health assessment by the Texas Health Institute found that 70 percent of adults in Montgomery County were obese or overweight, about twice the national rate. The Montgomery County United Way started the Healthy Living Alliance to reduce obesity and the health risks posed by overeating and lack of exercise.
To increase health responsibility and education in Montgomery County, the nonprofit also offers a “Healthy Me!” program for K-5 grade schools, and sponsors community events such as bike rodeos and 5K runs.
According to the Healthy Living Alliance, 16 Willis city employees completed the program; nine had weight losses ranging from 1.5 to 56pounds.
Twenty-one staff members at Greenleaf Elementary School completed the program, and 19 of the participants experienced weight loss ranging from 0.2 to 40pounds.
While half of the elementary school staff expe- rienced improved health, 90 percent of Willis employees benefited from the program.
The two pilot sites are into their second year of the program, and three additional sites have been added: Splendora Junior High, Reeves Elementary in Conroe and the city of Conroe. Company partnership
“We greatly appreciate our partnership with the United Way and the contributions their Healthy Living Alliance makes to employee wellness,” said Don Stockton, superintendent of the Conroe Independent School District, in a written statement. “Personal health is so much more than an individual issue; it impacts the greater community. We can achieve so much more together when we’re healthy.”
There’s also a waiting list for businesses wishing to take part in the program, which is tailored to smalland medium-sized companies that don’t necessarily have the resources to offer employees a workplace wellness program.
“We are specifically us- ing local fitness and local instructors throughout Montgomery County to donate their time, education and knowledge.
“They go onsite to these companies and organizations to provide a full workplace wellness program that (those employees would) be able to get if they worked for a large corporation,” said Candice Rouquette, director of the Healthy Living Alliance.