Corporate Health Screenings Show Better Results than the National Average
LOS GATOS, Calif., May 7, 2015 – BaySport, Inc., a Los Gatos based company specializing in corporate health, preventive medicine and physical therapy services, has found their corporate clients are healthier than most when it comes to blood cholesterol, body weight, and diabetes risk.
Since the mid-1980’s, BaySport’s team of health professionals has been working with Bay Area corporate clients to assess health risks of their employees through worksite biometric screening events. In 2014, after screening over 11,000 Bay Area tech workers, BaySport found that program participants had a lower LDL-cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol), a lower Body Mass Index (a relationship of height to weight), and lower incidence of pre-diabetes when compared to national averages.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 31.7% of adults in the United States have an elevated LDL-cholesterol. This compares with 24.9% of the BaySport program participants. Data from Gallup shows that the average Body Mass Index for a 40 year old in the United States is 28.2, while the average BMI in the BaySport screening group was 25.6. Pre-diabetes, or a fasted blood glucose level of 100-125 mg/dl, is seen in 27% of Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association. However, BaySport clients showed that only 12% were at this risk level.
BaySport’s Director of Preventive Medicine, Todd Trowbridge, explains that their clientele may have healthier results than the National Average for a number of reasons. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to many corporations that actively promote wellness services to their employees, including on-site fitness centers, gamified incentive programs, healthy food choices, biometric screenings, and peer support. In addition, Bay Area residents can enjoy the many opportunities that are associated with living in this part of the world – great weather, wide variety of recreational options, cutting edge tech support (think “wearable technology”), easy access to many healthy food choices, and a level of social acceptance that comes along with living a healthy lifestyle.
Biometric screenings can be performed using a fingerstick blood test that produces results in minutes. Typically, tests include Total Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Total/HDL Ratio, Triglycerides, and Glucose. Additional tests include blood pressure and height/weight/BMI.
“The beauty of these on-site screening programs is that immediate, individualized health related data can be provided for the participant,” says Doug Emery, BaySport President. “This helps to create that “teachable moment” and enables individuals to take control of their health and wellness decisions. The development of positive wellness habits can set-up all employees for future success in their work and home life. In addition, information gained from the health screening process will provide the corporate client with an aggregate report outlining test results and a strategy for follow-up programming to reduce health risks.”
BaySport professionals include Board Certified Physicians, Clinical Exercise Physiologists, Certified Phlebotomy Technicians, Registered Dieticians, and Nutritionists. The BaySport health screening team averages over 20 years of experience serving corporate clients.
The BaySport preventive medicine approach is 1) to educate the employee/participant as to their current health status based on quantifiable measurements; 2) to work with the employee/participant to develop short term and long term goals; 3) to provide program options, whether they are corporate-based or community-based, which create a roadmap to achieve these goals; 4) to provide on-going counsel and support for the participant and corporate client; and 5) to provide follow up services to reinforce program goals. This wellness philosophy is mirrored after the CDC’s Workplace Model.
Throughout the year, BaySport has been supporting a study with San Francisco State University to evaluate participants’ health screening results of Bay Area corporations screened by BaySport and identify ethnic related variations amongst the employee groups. Results of this study are anticipated to be complete at the end of 2015.
BaySport Contact:
Leslie Czarny
BaySport, Inc. Director of Corporate Communications
(408) 331-1772
leslie.czarny@baysport.com
About BaySport, Inc.
Founded in 1987, BaySport is a leading provider of preventive medicine, physical therapy, and corporate health services with offices in San Francisco, Redwood City, Santa Clara, and Los Gatos. With over 100 corporate clients, BaySport has developed many clinic and worksite based programs aimed at improving employee health and reducing employer health costs. From corporate fitness center management to health screening services to executive physical examinations, the BaySport staff is able to help participants identify health risks and make lifestyle adjustments to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke, certain cancers, and other diseases. More information about BaySport, Inc. is available at www.baysport.com.
