Marion manufacturing company participates in wellness study

Iowa State University researchers are conducting a six-month pilot program with three Iowa manufacturers, including one Marion company, to see if adding a companywide wellness program is worth the investment.

"Companies didn't have a good feel if (wellness programs) were a benefit, and they didn't know how to assess it," said Mike O'Donnell, program director for ISU's Center for Industrial Research and Service.

Researchers recruited 60 participants from Timberline Manufacturing Inc. in Marion as well as the Graphic Edge in Carroll and Rosenboom Machine & Tool in Sheldon, and took a preliminary look at their overall health, including physical, mental and financial well being.

Researchers then split participants into two groups: One only took the health risk assessment while the other completed a six-month program on nutrition, exercise, stress and finances.

O'Donnell said study participants will come back in January for additional assessments to see if employees are making any improvements.

"We'll also look at health-care costs year-over-year and the cost of premiums," he said. "It will help us understand if there is a benefit.

"We can quantify this for small and mid-sized companies."

Tom Appel,  Timberline Manufacturing human resource manager, said the company was in the process of developing a wellness program when it learned about participating in the study. He said participants got to meet and speak with wellness experts on a weekly basis about everything from how to read a nutrition label to better managing their money.

"We'll take what worked well and use that here," Appel said. "I can see us carrying on what we've learned and have similar seminars with the whole company." 

Starting in 2014, a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will allow companies to increase health care premiums for employees who do not participate in wellness programs as well as offer more incentives for wellness programs.

Appel said that provisions has not influenced the company's decision to start a wellness program.

Key initial findings from all companies:

• More than 80 percent of employees were obese or overweight – this was not determined by weight and height, but based on body composition that compares body fat to lean body mass.
• Nearly 45 percent of employees were at high to very high risk for chronic disease, such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, as assessed by waist to hip ratio.
• Only 26 percent smoke, but those who do smoke an average of 12 cigarettes a day.
• About 85 percent had poor or low flexibility in the left arm.