Helping your population become as healthy as possible is a noble mission to undertake, but - as with most things in life - there are “right” and “wrong” ways to go about it. In many groups, it’s not uncommon to see health competitions set up that have some sort of monetary or material prize for winning. Things like “Biggest Loser” or “Most Steps” competitions run rampant throughout offices - and they generally aren’t great ideas.
Take a look at why health competitions like these usually backfire and what alternative resources or interventions can replace them.
Getting folks up and moving is a great way to encourage a healthier environment. For starters, moving more can spark physical benefits such as burning more calories, improving circulation, and even helping to banish stiff muscles or poor posture. But challenging participants to these types of initiatives could do more harm than good.
Some of the possible ramifications can include things like:
Instead of group competitions, challenge people to sit less and move more by creating a culture of physical activity within your organization that encourages personal improvement. And it doesn’t have to be just hitting the gym – taking a couple of short walks throughout the day will burn calories and get blood flowing.
For many individuals, when they think about “health” they think about their weight and BMI. It seems logical then that one of the easiest ways to get people healthy is to start a “biggest loser” or another type of weight loss challenge, right? Actually, no - and here’s why.
These types of challenges can have massive drawbacks since there’s so much more that goes into being healthy than just a number. Some of the drawbacks include:
Positive and effective ways to help individuals achieve and maintain a healthy weight include:
It’s also important to note that different environments and social situations evoke different responses from people. When someone “above” an individual - whether it’s their boss or their doctor - offers a suggestion, it might be taken much more seriously than if a friend or family member suggests the same thing.
Running an office-wide competition - even if it’s 100% voluntary - may seem like harmless fun, but some members could feel as if they have no choice but to join in. They may feel pressured to do things they wouldn’t otherwise consider doing, such as sharing personal details (their weight, BMI, et cetera), or embarking on a diet or fitness program that they aren’t comfortable with. This can cause undue stress, anxiety, or even depressive periods, especially for those who may be dealing with (or are prone to) disordered eating - even if it seems like there are positive benefits for them.
Creating a wellness team that’s representative of your population is a great way to minimize “power” pressure. Invite young and old, fit and out-of-shape, healthy eaters and caffeine fueled parents to contribute ideas for wellness campaigns.
You can certainly provide other resources, interventions, and perks that can make living a healthy lifestyle easier. Some suggestions include:
If you’re looking for ways to help your population be as healthy and happy as possible, take a look at our 2018 Annual Review, Happiness, Habits, and Health: Measuring Mental Health with Health Risk Assessment Data.