Fit 101

The American Heart Association has recognized SUNY Orange as a Start! Fit-Friendly Gold Company for its ongoing promotion of physical activity and health in the workplace.

Tonya Addy, executive director at the American Heart Association, visited the Middletown campus to present a plaque signifying the college”™s gold level status in the program. “We are so happy to have SUNY Orange on board as a Fit Friendly Company,” Addy said. “With a wellness support system set up in the workplace, people are more likely to choose a healthier lifestyle.”

Companies reach gold level status by implementing programs to encourage physical activity, nutrition and culture enhancements such as on-site walking routes, healthy food choices in cafeterias and vending machines, annual employee health risk assessments and online tracking tools.

SUNY Orange has a variety of wellness programs available for its employees, including a walk-at-work program. Yoga, spinning and other aerobic programs are offered as well, along with a diverse intramural athletic program that is open to students, faculty and staff at no charge. Employees may also sign up for supplemental programs and workshops that encourage efficient time management, explain healthy lifestyles and discuss stress reduction.

The association has released a policy statement in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association” that shows worksite wellness programs are proven to prevent the major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Nationally, the association recognized more than 1,200 companies in 2009 ”“ an all-time high. The American Heart Association also champions worksite wellness programs in its health care reform efforts, supporting an amendment that will be offered in a U.S. House Energy and Commerce bill to provide grants for qualified workplace wellness programs.

SUNY Orange also participates in the American Heart Association”™s annual Start! Heart Walk. In May, the college”™s Heart Walk teams raised $7,498.