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Health 1st encourages support of fitness program by Beka Hardin Program Coordinator, Health 1st From the 2005 employee health survey, Health 1st found how  important it is for MUSC employees to become concerned about their health. Survey results showed that 55 percent of employees are overweight or obese, and 35 percent have been told to lose weight by a health care provider. Almost 60 percent report exercising only sometimes or not at all. Those who are overweight or obese are six times more likely to report having diabetes and 4.5 times more likely to report having high blood pressure, among other often preventable health problems. MUSC’s Employee Wellness Program wants employees to be healthy and happy at work and at home.   August winners are The Tagging Tigers (Property Control department), that include coach Charlene Lowe, second from left, and  Annette Dent, Francena Edwards, Mitzi Fetner, Lovie Howell, Linda Mitchell, Jose Stamp, Ranada River and Joyce Williams. Not pictured is Henry Richardson.   One way Health 1st is helping MUSC employees is through the Wellness Teams competition. The competition started in May to encourage MUSC employees to start eating healthier and start becoming more physically active. This competition encourages everyone to join— from the couch potato to the triathlete. This is a yearlong competition among teams, and at the end of each month the team that logs in the most points wins a prize. Prizes have included massages, plants, silver key chains, gift bags from Whole Foods, etc. At the end of the year, the team that does the best overall receives the best prize (which hasn’t been revealed yet). A team cannot win more than once a month so others have a chance to win, but they are still eligible for the year-end overall prize.   Each team consists of no more than 10 members and all members receive a pedometer to count their steps, a log book to track their steps and other healthy habits, and a Health 1st T-shirt to show them their health comes first. Coaches additionally receive a Health 1st hat. Team members can earn extra points each month by attending Health 1st- sponsored classes and by following the healthy focus for the month found in their log book. Also available to team members and to the rest of MUSC are group walks around campus and opportunities to run or walk in community races. The goal for every employee is to eventually walk at least 10,000 steps a day.   Author Steven Aldana, Ph.D., states, “those who don’t smoke, who eat right and exercise regularly live longer and are sick for a much shorter period of time at the end of their lives. Those who don’t exercise or eat right have shorter lives and are sicker longer at the end of their lives.” It’s never too late to change unhealthy ways, and Health 1st is here to support you. The best part is you don’t have to do it alone.   Take that first step toward a new lifestyle by forming or joining a wellness team. To get started, call 792-9959 or 792-1245 or e-mail health1st@musc.edu to get you started. Suggestions for the Wellness Program are welcomed.   To learn about other activities, visit http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/health1st.   And remember, “Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness,” according to writer Edward Stanley.   Congratulations to  the August winners, The Tagging Tigers from Property Control. The team includes coach Charlene Lowe, along with Annette Dent, Francena Edwards, Mitzi Fetner, Lovie Howell, Linda Mitchell, Henry Richardson, Ranada Rivers, Jose Stamp and Joyce Williams.   Congratulations to past team winners: May—Green Team with coach Ashley Leinbach, IOP; June—Financial Fury with coach Chiaki Kight, Controller’s Office; and July—Stay Drive Go Getters with coach Jacquie McRinna, IOP.     Friday, Sept. 21, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.