Posted on: Friday, May 6, 2005

HMSA 'go' campaign helps bad eaters from being goners

Advertiser Staff

The statistics are alarming: At 22 percent, the youth obesity rate in Hawai'i is twice the national average. In addition, more than 50 percent of adults in the Islands are overweight or obese, as reported by the American Public Health Association.

That's why healthcare insurer HMSA has introduced a multi-faceted campaign called "go," to get its members moving and to improve their diets.

"Studies show that inactive people are almost twice as likely to develop heart disease than people who are more active, and the combination of poor diet and physical inactivity is rapidly approaching tobacco as the leading cause of preventable death," said Robert P. Hiam, president and CEO of HMSA.

The campaign offers an interactive Web site, www.HMSA.com/go, that includes a "calorie burn off" matrix showing how much and what kind of physical activity is needed to burn off calories for a variety of snack foods, based on the individual's body weight.

The site also features a stretching guide, physical activity safety tips and a statewide community calendar of health- and fitness-related events.

Another aspect of the "go" campaign is a Weight Watchers pilot program that will be free to qualifying HMSA members. Members can call the HealthPass office at 948-6456 for more information.