Profile, HealthPartners partner on worker weight management
Contact:
Jon Berg
Sanford Health Media Relations
605-366-2432 / jon.berg@sanfordhealth.org
SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Aug. 4, 2021 — Profile by Sanford, an evidence-based, comprehensive behavioral weight management program, and HealthPartners, the largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization in the nation, announced the results of a 12-month cohort longitudinal study that evaluated the impact of a health system sponsored employee weight management program.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the Profile program on employee and employer-related outcomes including weight, health behaviors and health and well-being as well as health care utilization, absenteeism and job satisfaction.
Participants in the program lost an average of 8% in body weight after 3 months and maintained through 12 months of joining Profile. In addition, employees reported improvements in emotional health and higher levels of life satisfaction and energy to sustain a full workday.
“The results from this study underscore the important role that employers can play in improving the health, well-being and productivity of their workforce by offering an evidence-based weight management program that incorporates personalized health coaching, structured meal planning and other lifestyle interventions,” said Stephen Herrmann, PhD, Senior Director of Innovation & Research at Profile by Sanford. “This collaboration with HealthPartners was meaningful because they highly value their employees’ health and well-being and want to see evidence of effectiveness; so we had the opportunity to design a rigorous program in close coordination with a healthcare delivery system and insurer.”
“In the workplace, obesity has widely-documented impacts – employees with obesity have 20% more doctor visits, incur higher medical costs and have higher rates of absenteeism than those without overweight or obesity,” said Nico P. Pronk, PhD, MA, FACSM, FAWHP, president of HealthPartners Institute and Chief Science Officer at HealthPartners. “The study conducted with Profile by Sanford will help to establish more rigorous practice-based real-world evidence of the impacts of weight loss programs on healthcare-related outcomes including chronic diagnoses, medication and health care utilization as well as indicators of well-being.”
HealthPartners employs more than 26,000 people and serves over 2 million patients and insurance plan members across the Midwest. Profile is currently offered to all interested HealthPartners employees and adult dependents who receive health insurance through their employer. Participants who complete at least 20 Profile coaching sessions during the year are eligible for a financial incentive to reduce their health insurance costs. The incentive is not tied to program outcomes but rather to participation in the program.
In total, 140 participants enrolled in the study with Profile. Over the course of one year, participants reported clinically significant improvements in weight, BMI, fruit/vegetable intake, home food preparation, added sugar, sugar sweetened beverages and life satisfaction.
About Profile by Sanford
Profile by Sanford is an evidence-based, comprehensive behavioral weight management program delivered by health coaches designed to improve nutrition, activity and lifestyle behaviors. It was created by physicians, researchers, and dietitians at Sanford Health, one of the largest not-for-profit integrated health systems in the U.S.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, one of the largest health systems in the United States, is dedicated to the integrated delivery of health care, genomic medicine, senior care and services, global clinics, research and affordable insurance. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization includes 46 hospitals, 1,400 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and 10 countries. Learn more about Sanford Health’s transformative work to improve the human condition at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
About Health Partners
HealthPartners is the largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization in the nation with a mission to improve health and well-being in partnership with members, patients and the community. For more information, visit healthpartners.com
