European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 5, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Page 14 stars and stripes Mideast edition july 2007 your Money companies invest in workers weight loss by Ashley Heher the associated press Chicago a burgeoning Industry of wellness coun Selorus and consultants is booming As corporate America tries to in crease productivity and control insurance costs by helping its employees get healthy and shed the change is fuelled by Cost conscious executives who Are looking for ways to trim Bottom lines along with Waist the truth is cos Are the ones that have to address said Mike the Republican presidential candidate and former governor of Arkansas who created a wellness program for state employees after losing More than 100 and they about 53 percent of Large employers offered health risk assess ments for their staff last year up from 35 percent in according to a Survey by Mercer human resource the prevalence of corp rat sponsored disease manage nurse advice lines and other health related programs is also climbing As companies find they can no longer trim extra Sav Ings out of health insurance poli employers have spent a lot of time tweaking and they Haven spent a lot of time getting a consumer said Tami a Mercer consultant who focuses on health and productivity youll see plan designs that Are really starting to get engaged and the change is driven by a study published in april by a group of Duke University re searchers showed obese employees had higher rates of workers compensation More lost work Days and costlier medical Bills than their trim frustrated by health insurance costs that were growing More than 10 percent a Ohio state University launched a massive wellness program last year with the Hope of cutting medical sex organizers Hope the Initia which offers gift certificates and other will help the school save million Over the next five program spokes woman Kim Schuette while wellness programs once offered counselling or education to Only the sickest there now preaching Preven Tion and More cohesive services that address a Range of educating me is one giving me something that will help me move Forward is Aneth said Kenneth vice president for health and productivity at unum the nations largest disability theres a trend to become More actively engaged and More focused in helping that fueling the rapid growth of the Niche Industry of wellness advisers who provide everything tuesdays Market summary indexes 52week net Ltd 52wk High Low name last chg Dow Jones industrials Dow Jones transportation Dow Jones utilities nose composite amex Index Nash a composite Russell 2000 do Wilshire 5000 1 ii most Active or More name last Active or More name last Active or More name last chg forum 639678 pm cup 265634 Geneles 174460 Pfizer 171231 142301 Kraft 137365 Psi corp 118323 Motorola 113550 Alc Atellus 101798 cite Gap 100003 503068 ishr2knya 308105 spend 145761 Prusha Rqn 79166 do Madiam 68239 Sutil 53906 spongy 52198 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helping them maintain their new what we dont have in the weight control business now is a program of said Rebecca an obesity re searcher and associated professor at Baylor College of Medicine in theres and it does Exchange rates military rates euro costs july Dollar buys july British Pound july japanese yen july South korean won july commercial rates Bahrain British Canada China Denmark Egypt Hong Kong Hungary Israel Japan Kuwait Norway Philippines Poland saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey new military Exchange rates Are those available to customers at military Bank ing facilities in the country of issuance for South the Netherlands and the United for no local currency Exchange rates purchasing British pounds in Germa Check with your local military Bank ing commercial rates Are inter Bank rates provided for reference when buying All figures Are foreign currencies to one except for the British which is represented in and the which is precious metals new York merc close Gold Silver interest rates prime discount Federal funds Market rate 3month 30year sources the associated Bank of America health management As the Field businesses looking for help can find a dizzy ing array of methods to help pm and very Little research to Back up which provide the Best Call me developed years the Friedan True method of Telephone counselling and educational brochures continues to be an effective Way to help work ers manage health got a question about your blood pres sure dial a trying to keep your diabetes in Check Counselor will Call these companies can get permission to mine insurance claims data and do everything from remind you to take your Medicine to offer overt Ephone feel the Burn onsite gyms and fitness centers can be More than an 80sera stationary Bike stashed in a Well Ness companies today will de build and manage a corporate personal trainers take note of medical histories while classes help the out shape get the gyms can be a recruitment tool for wooing potential just having a facility shows the employees that the company cares about their said Brenda president of Montgomery corporate fitness works which operates such facilities for dozens of companies across the say a huh health risk assessments do just that study employees medical status to find out if there at risk for chronic corporations usually provide prizes and sometimes even Cash to employees who undergo diagnostics and commit to getting digital dishes wellness companies offer mountains of in formation on their web from quizzes and tips to online coaching and some even go As far As to offer customized exercise plans and along with grocery lists that can be downloaded on an ipod for easy some people will read the pro and change their some will come Back on a daily said Ted chief executive of Ann health Media which provides services such As online counselling for More than 30 million were trying to fundamentally Deal with the is sues Thall change your behave the associated press ends and sensibility Money tip of the Day credit cards helping out Detroit free press Itz time 4 u 2 Stop or 2 close 2 credit a text message from a credit card company it is one new strategy that could help College students and others avoid get Ting socked with hefty fees and higher this Chase credit card holders will even be Able to get a credit when they sign up for three such tools free automatic payments and online think of such cube Friendly gimmicks As a natural response by the credit card companies to increased heat in some lawmakers Are calling for tougher restrictions on credit card and the card companies Are rolling out More ways to save their skin while maybe even saving you discover financial services launched the discover motive card this which gives con Sumers rewards for Good credit make an onetime payment six months in a Row you get the next months interest on any unpaid balance Back As a the card allows Consumers to pay their Bills Over the phone for free Many cards charge for the card highlights optional email such alerts Are available on other discover some others companies offer deals for onetime including a Citi a thu Platinum select visa for College this Chase launched what it Calls its Chase Clear simple the credit for those who sign up for All three online tools Rolls out in the offer will appear gradually in statements throughout the customers can select text Mes phone messages or want an Alert of a trans action of or More or a head sup when approaching the credit limit or a reminder to pay the Bill it can be very easy to forget a due said Paul a spokesman for Chase card services in Wilming