News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004 |
HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343 |
HHS and OPM Announce Launch of HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge
New Campaign Urges Federal Workforce to Get Moving for Health
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kay Coles James today launched the HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge, the first government-wide effort to encourage federal employees to get moving for health.
The campaign, which is part of President George W. Bush's HealthierUS initiative, will help motivate the federal workforce to make physical activity a daily habit.
"America needs to get healthier and federal employees need to set the pace," Secretary Thompson said. "We're spreading the message of prevention and we need to lead by example. I challenge everyone within the government to make physical activity a part of their daily lives. Encourage each other, compete against other offices, but most importantly have fun and get healthy."
The goal for HealthierFeds participants is to meet daily physical activity goals of 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for six weeks. Participants can choose from a list of more than 100 activities and log their activity online in increments as small as five minutes. The HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge will utilize the President's Challenge, a program of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
"I'm very excited about the physical activity challenge, an important part of the 2004 HealthierFeds campaign," Director James said. "I invite all agencies to join our efforts to build a healthier federal workforce."
More than half of American adults do not get enough activity to gain the benefits of physical activity. The HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge provides all federal employees with the tools and motivation to take steps to improve their health and well-being.
Regular physical activity substantially reduces the mortality risk related to coronary heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death, and decreases the risk for stroke, colon cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.
"We are also encouraging our employees to complement more activity with better diet. Exercise more, eat less," Secretary Thompson said. "Active employees translate into higher morale, closer teamwork, increased productivity and lower health care costs."
"Ultimately, physical activity programs represent an effective, cost-efficient and fun way to answer employees' calls for help in coping with the challenges of balancing both personal and professional responsibilities," Director James said.
Employees can sign up online at www.healthierfeds.gov and use the Web site to log their physical activities for six weeks. HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge is part of Steps to a HealthierUS, a bold new initiative from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that advances President George W. Bush's HealthierUS goal of helping Americans live longer, better and healthier lives.
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Last Revised: October 7, 2004
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