Community Benefit Fall Report 2007 - (Page 9)

Community Benefit Report Mass Index (BMI) greater than 29. “Overweight” is defined by the National Institutes of Health as having a BMI of 25 or greater, and obesity is indicated by a BMI of 30 or greater. The program’s goals are to control weight gain through modified diet and increased physical activity, because obese pregnant women are at risk for gestational diabetes, hypertension and complications. The key to any weight management program is diet, exercise and managing stress. Lancaster General works to help all individuals maintain a regular exercise program and cope with stress through our wellness classes. The classes include: Walking Club, Qigong, Tai Chi, Pilates, Dancers Body, Reiki, Heart Healthy Yoga, Mindful Yoga, Mother Baby Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Stress Management, Pregnancy Plunge, Maternal Motion, and exercise routines through Lancaster General Cardiac Rehabilitation and Physical Rehabilitation for patients who have undergone treatment for disease. In partnership with the Lancaster County Parks and Recreation Commission, Lancaster General published and distributed more than 20,000 copies of Lancaster on the Move, a guide to free/low-cost places to be physically active in Lancaster County. We also distributed 40,000 copies of a brochure called A Parent’s Guide to Healthy Eating and Activity. Lancaster General also encourages its nearly 7,000 employees and their families to participate in wellness programs, including LiveWell, our employee wellness and incentive program, and LEARN®. Our employees are entitled to corporate rates at certain fitness facilities. Additionally, Lancaster General partners with other organizations to provide opportunities for physical activity while supporting important community causes. We’ve supported the American Heart Association Heart Walk, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Diabetes Walk for a Cure, the YWCA Race Against Racism and helped initiate Lancaster Movers & Shapers. family communication & teen’s self-esteem About a year ago, David and Louise Gerrity of Lititz were wondering how to discuss nutrition and exercise with their 12-year-old daughter, Rachel, without damaging her self-esteem. They found the answer in Shapedown, a comprehensive Lancaster General program that helps children and teens—along with their families—develop a lifestyle built on healthy foods and regular exercise. “We never talked about our concerns because we didn’t want to say the wrong thing and close the door on communication,” Louise Gerrity says. “As a family, the biggest benefit of our participation in Shapedown is that we now speak honestly to one another without anyone feeling blame or shame.” For Rachel, now 13, the biggest benefit has been the boost to her self-esteem. “I look at myself differently now,” she says. “Before the program, I’d look in the mirror and think, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t like what I’m seeing.’ After the program, I think more positively. Now I look in the mirror and say, ‘Oh my gosh, I look good.’ ” Shapedown boosts By Your Side on the web For more information about these healthy-living resources and to order the free publications mentioned above, please call the Lancaster General Wellness Center at 544-3138 or visit our Web site at www. LancasterGeneral.org. To download the Lancaster on the Move guide from our Web site, search for “Lancaster on the Move” or call 544-3138. To download A Parent’s Guide to Healthy Eating and Activity, search for “healthy eating” or call 544-3138. For more about healthy weight management classes, search for “healthy weight” or call 544-3138. 9 http://www.lancastergeneral.org/content/Shapedown.htm http://www.lancastergeneral.org/content/Lancaster_On_The_Move.htm http://www.lancastergeneral.org/content/ParentsGuide_HealthyEating.htm http://www.lancastergeneral.org/content/Wellness_Live_Well.htm http://www.lancastergeneral.org/content/LG_Education_Wellness_Center.htm http://www.LancasterGeneral.org http://www.LancasterGeneral.org

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Community Benefit Fall Report 2007

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