New study shows the impact of health coaching in the workplace.

We know that if we want kids to be healthy, it starts in the home.  That means helping parents make healthier choices at home and at work.  

Parents spend a great deal of their day at work.  The growing popularity of corporate wellness programs is due to this fact.  The workplace can be another place to support parents and help them learn about healthier choices that they in turn, can teach to their children.  

A study was conducted by Principal Financial Group® that worked with three of their large clients, tracking over 12000 adults that participated in their wellness program.  3600 participants qualified for one-on-one health coaching which included at least four telephone sessions.

In particular, the study targeted adults with metabolic syndrome because people with this condition are*:

• five times more likely to develop diabetes
• twice as likely to die from a heart attack or stroke
• three times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke

The participants had their blood pressure, waist circumference, triglycerides  and tobacco usage.

The results of the study indicated:

• health coaching helped decrease the likelihood of developing diabetes, heart attack and stroke
• More than 1 in 3 participants moved out of the metabolic syndrome status
• tobacco use decreased