Food for Life Employee Wellness Program

Adults in the United States spend more than half of their waking hours at work, giving employers a unique opportunity to impact the health and wellness of their employees. In a public health climate of a growing health crisis and mounting health care costs, more attention needs to be given to eating healthfully and staying active, especially around a busy work schedule. By offering PCRM’s Food for Life: Employee Wellness Program, employers can lead the way to facilitating an office culture of health and wellness that employees can carry into their lives at home.

Why Focus on Nutrition?

Making the right food choices is key to the prevention and survival of chronic diseases and health conditions, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Cancer
One out of two men and one out of three women in the United States will develop cancer in their lifetimes. With more than 12 million cancer survivors in the United States and many more wishing to prevent getting the disease, people are highly interested in ways to fight cancer. But many are unaware of the link between diet and cancer. Research has shown that approximately 40 percent of cancer risk is related to dietary choices. PCRM’s Food for Life: Cancer Project nutrition and cooking classes unlocks the power of proper nutrition to fight cancer.

Diabetes
In the United States, 26 million adults have type 2 diabetes, and one-fourth are unaware that they have the disease. Uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to complications including blindness and kidney failure. Fortunately, research has shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented and treated with a healthful diet and physical activity. The Food for Life: Diabetes Initiative nutrition and cooking classes reveal the proper dietary plan for combatting the disease.

Weight management
Two out of every three adults in the United States is overweight or obese and the direct medical costs associated with obesity totals $147 billion. Faced with the physical and financial toll of our nation’s expanding waistlines, the need for lifestyle changes to improve our health is greater than ever. PCRM’s Food for Life: Kickstart Your Health nutrition and cooking classes step through adopting the optimal diet for maintaining a healthy weight and fighting diet related chronic diseases.

Proven Success

Since 2001, PCRM has been a nutrition education and outreach leader when we launched the Food for Life nutrition and cooking classes program. Designed by physicians, nutrition experts, and registered dietitians, each class includes the latest research on diet and chronic diseases, along with cooking demonstrations of healthful dishes, food samples, and supportive group discussions. The program has grown to be tremendously popular and is being offered in more than 160 cities around the United States, plus multiple countries, reaching 10,000 people annually.

In 2007, PCRM conducted a research study at GEICO to test our unique approach to support employees in adopting an optimal diet in the workplace. Compared with the control group, the study participants:

• Lost an average of 11 pounds
• Lowered their cholesterol levels
• Lost 2 inches of both their waistlines and hips
• Improved their blood sugars, if they had diabetes
• Had 6.1 fewer hours of absenteeism

In 2010, a new study was initiated testing PCRM’s worksite nutrition program at ten GEICO sites around the nation. The results are now pending publication.

Combining our well established Food for Life nutrition and cooking class program and our effective worksite nutrition program, PCRM offers the Food for Life Employee Wellness Program to companies.

Food for Life Employee Wellness Program Format

The program consists of the same elements proven to be successful in the GEICO study and the Food for Life nutrition and cooking classes:

• Weekly sessions for workers consisting of nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, food samples, and supportive group discussions
• Support for the employer’s food service provider to incorporate healthful food options into the menu
• Guidance on healthful dining out choices if there is no employer food service provider

Testimonials

"In just seven weeks, I am much healthier and have been able to eliminate medication for sleeping, depression, and high blood pressure ... I have recommended the class to several people."

– Katherine Bishop, Matsu Regional Medical Center

“We have seen such a huge difference in only two weeks, it is amazing. I am so excited! I have lost almost four pounds already, my kids ask for seconds, our grocery bill has dropped, I'm waking up before my alarm, and I've been so much more focused!”

– Tiffany Bryan, Unity Church

To learn more about PCRM’s Food for Life: Employee Wellness Program, contact info@fflclasses.org or call 202-686-2210.