BeWell@Baxter: Global Exercise Challenge and Healthy Eating Month

Healthy eating + physical activity = stronger employees

Employees at Baxter's production facility in Halle, Germany, were among the nearly 12,000 employees at 80 locations worldwide that participated in the BeWell@Baxter Exercise Challenge in 2010.

Through BeWell@Baxter, the company’s global employee health and wellness effort, Baxter is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of its employees and their families. BeWell@Baxter aims to help employees stay well through education and prevention initiatives, make healthy lifestyle changes and address chronic or acute conditions.

The BeWell@Baxter Personal Wellness Profile, an online health risk assessment, helps employees understand how lifestyle choices, family history and other factors impact their health. Aggregate data from the Personal Wellness Profile highlights exercise and good nutrition as top focus areas for employees across the company. As a result, in 2010, two global initiatives were introduced: The BeWell@Baxter Global Exercise Challenge and Healthy Eating Month.

The Challenge, which spanned the month of May, encouraged employees to increase their daily activity level, track their exercise minutes and compete to be the “Biggest Movers.” Throughout the month, nearly 12,000 employees at 80 Baxter locations participated in the Challenge, logging more than 100,000 hours of exercise. Individuals took part in lunchtime walking and cycling teams and activities such as rock climbing, yoga, swimming, running, spin classes and even line dancing. The company recognized the top six Baxter locations in each region boasting the most combined exercise time and the highest percentage of participants with “Biggest Mover” awards.

In November, Baxter celebrated Healthy Eating Month, which was designed to help employees and their families focus on good eating habits. Ninety facilities around the world held nutrition-related activities including healthy cooking contests, quizzes and demonstrations; fresh fruit giveaways; onsite seminars from registered dieticians and herbalists; free breakfasts for employees cycling to work; and "challenges" to help employees manage weight during the holidays. More than 35% of employees participated in events offered during Healthy Eating Month.

"I strongly believe that individual employees and the company as a whole can do really good things when we are healthy and well," said Jeanne Mason, Baxter's corporate vice president of Human Resources. "This globally focused effort to help employees make healthy changes in their lives is just another way we can achieve our vision to be a rewarding place to work and develop and become a great company."

Jeanne Ayler, a traffic specialist at Baxter's Deerfield, Illinois, United States, facility is one "success story" related to the BeWell@Baxter program. Ayler lost more than 33 kilograms (72 pounds), lowered her bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride levels and increased her good cholesterol (HDL) level after incorporating some of the exercise and diet suggestions she received after completing her Personal Wellness Profile.

"I love the sense of teamwork and camaraderie promoted by the BeWell@Baxter program," Ayler said. "Many of us work out together and share healthy eating strategies. That kind of support really does make a difference!"