PRINCETON - New Jersey spent $2.2 billion in 2008 on obesity-related illnesses such as heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes and arthritis, according to data reported by the N.J. Department of Health. Spending is projected to climb to $9.3 billion by 2018 if this trend is not reversed. To help improve this scenario, the New Jersey Hospital Association has launched Keep NJ Healthy, a new Web site (www.keepnjhealthy.com) designed to help consumers and employers maintain health and wellness.
The Web site offers a wealth of up-to-date information, resources and links. Consumers can search by hospital name to find health and wellness programs located in their area. And for healthcare employers, the site provides a valuable resource where they can share successful employee wellness programs with their peers.
“Promoting wellness, in our communities and our workforce, is a central part of reforming our healthcare system for the future,” said Betsy Ryan, president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association. “This Web site can help individuals make lifestyle changes so they can better manage existing health conditions and perhaps prevent new ones from developing.”
The site includes the following features:
- A statewide listing of New Jersey hospitals’ community programming on wellness, exercise and nutrition
- A list of employee wellness programs, plus benchmark information so employers can see what others are doing to promote employee wellness
- Special sections on nutrition and exercise
- New Jersey health facts
- Links to an array of resources on nutrition, fitness, health data and overall wellness and well-being.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with our members to make the Garden State a healthier place to live, work and play,” stated Belinda Cooper, NJHA’s vice president of human resources. “This site showcases their efforts to date and, we hope, will encourage and support further development of employee and community wellness programming.”
