Childhood Obesity

Combating Obesity for Healthier Children

The effects of childhood obesity are far-reaching — but not irreversible. That's why CIGNA has teamed up with Healthy Kids Challenge, a national nonprofit organization focused on helping schools and communities take preventive action against childhood obesity by encouraging healthier eating habits and physical activity in elementary school children.

Join the challenge. Let's bring families, businesses, doctors and schools together, provide the tools and support they need, and help change attitudes, behaviors and the health outlook for our children. We can't do it alone. You can help.

In the schools. The Healthy Kids Challenge works with elementary schools (K-5) around the country to help kids develop healthy eating and physical activity habits. The CIGNA-sponsored program includes hands-on support from Healthy Kids Challenge experts who help schools develop and implement their plans.

At work and at home. To help Healthy Kids Challenge with obesity prevention, CIGNA plans to offer customers a Human Resources Manager toolkit as part of our comprehensive Wellness program. The kit includes guidelines for instituting healthy changes in the workplace, information about preventing childhood and adult obesity, materials to distribute in the workplace, and materials employees can take home to incorporate healthy eating and physical activity at home.

With communities and businesses. CIGNA is committed to bringing employers, doctors and schools together to join the challenge. To further the message, we're sponsoring various lectures and launching our Benefits of Caring educational campaign in popular trade and consumer media.

With health care providers. CIGNA HealthCare, in conjunction with CIGNA Behavioral Health and Healthy Kids Challenge, will supply doctors with information and tools to help them have more open discussions on the issue of obesity with children's parents. CIGNA will also develop a free, continuing medical education program and obesity counseling training which will include general obesity prevention strategies and specific weight-management strategies designed for the overweight child.

Other Supporting Wellness Components

• Healthy Rewards^®CIGNA's national program provides members with access to complementary and alternative therapies at discounted prices, including discounts for fitness club memberships, health and wellness products and Weight Watchers^® programs.
• CIGNA HealthCare 24-Hour Health Information Line^SMMembers can reach a nurse to ask health care questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from anywhere in the U.S. The service also offers a recorded audio tape library of more than 1,000 topics.
• CIGNA Well Aware Program for Better Health^SMWe help individuals with chronic conditions — many of which are linked to obesity-develop personalized action plans under the guidance of their physician. Members are provided access to an experienced registered nurse to call for guidance and support, education materials and self-care information.

Learn to eat smart, be fit and live well with a special offer from Cooking Light magazine through your Healthy Rewards^® program. You'll get two free trial issues and if you subscribe and pay only $16 for nine more issues! And for every paid subscription businesses can sponsor schools within their community. If you're interested in placing your stake in the ground within your community, let us know and we will connect you with our partners at Healthy Kids Challenge.

The Facts (PDF, 35K)

Issuing Behavioral Prescriptions (PDF, 35K)