The do Campaign Makes It Easier for Minnesota Residents to 'Groove' During the Workday; Free Posters and 'How-To' Guide Encourage Physical Activity in the Workplace

Business Wire, Feb 27, 2006

EAGAN, Minn. -- Minnesota workers can no longer claim pushing paper as their most strenuous exercise during the workday. For the first time, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) and the American Heart Association have made the do campaign worksite posters, which are pre-printed on heavy stock, and many of the other high quality worksite program materials available for free on the do Employer Web site located at www.do-groove.com/order. Loaded with posters encouraging physical activity, a how-to guide, downloadable games and more, the site is an online resource for Minnesota businesses to create and maintain a program that gets employees grooving their bodies 10 minutes, three times a day.

"The do campaign wants to reach people where they live, work and play because physical activity is important to the health of all Minnesotans. It saves lives and it saves money," said Jill Chamberlain, Blue Cross health improvement coordinator for the Center for Prevention. "Blue Cross is offering the free do campaign worksite program and materials to encourage people to make more active choices during the workday and increase their cardiovascular health."

Recent research shows that workers who exercise during the day perform better at work, including improved time management skills, mental performance and ability to manage demands. The research, released in June 2005 by Leeds Metropolitan University in the U.K., also found that exercise of any length, duration or intensity resulted in the same productivity and mood benefits.

Available to any Minnesota company regardless of its healthcare provider, the do Employer Web site, www.do-groove.com/order, provides an overview of the campaign as well as fun ideas and easy step-by-step instructions to implement the campaign in the worksite. In addition, employers can purchase do-branded merchandise such as T-shirts, gardening gloves and water bottles for employee incentive programs and prize giveaways. Campaign elements, including template employee newsletter articles, activity list templates and sample worksite program executions, allow employers to customize the campaign to meet their needs. Free posters, tailored for the workplace, feature phrases such as, "This break room is now officially the break dance room," "Hand deliver your emails," and "Warm up with the copier. Jog in place." Several posters also specifically encourage workers to take the stairs when possible, with text such as "Free StairMaster," "Race the elevator" and "Don't let the machines win. Take the stairs."

"Improving employee health should be a priority for all Minnesota businesses," said Gen Barron, Medtronic health and wellness manager. "We implemented the do campaign in our office buildings because the message encouraging people to look for opportunities to be more physically active is so important. The program is easy to use and feedback from employees has been tremendous."

Do's goal is to encourage Minnesotans to add physical activity to their everyday lives in three 10-minute segments each day. Blue Cross developed the campaign to meet the recommended physical activity guidelines set by the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The campaign combines widespread public messaging with on-the-street activities to highlight and recognize physical activity options. Physical inactivity and diet, combined, are the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and are responsible for nearly $500 million dollars in health care costs in Minnesota annually. For more information about the do campaign, visit www.do-groove.com.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.6 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to www.bluecrossmn.com to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.