title: A comprehensive worksite wellness program in Austin, Texas: partnership between Steps to a Healthier Austin and Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2003, Steps to a Healthier Austin was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to implement chronic disease prevention and health promotion activities. We report Steps to a Healthier Austin's partnership with Health & Lifestyles Corporate Wellness, Inc (Health & Lifestyles), to provide a worksite wellness program for Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro), Austin's local transit authority.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Capital Metro employs 1,282 people. In 2003, Health & Lifestyles was hired to help promote healthier lifestyles, increase employee morale, and combat rising health care costs and absenteeism rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health & Lifestyles provided consultations with wellness coaches and personal trainers, a 24-hour company fitness center, personalized health assessments, and preventive screenings. The program expanded to include healthier food options, cash incentives, health newsletters, workshops, dietary counseling, smoking cessation programs, and a second fitness center.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants in the wellness program reported improvements in physical activity, healthy food consumption, weight loss, and blood pressure. Capital Metro's total health care costs increased by progressively smaller rates from 2003 to 2006 and then decreased from 2006 to 2007. Absenteeism has decreased by approximately 25% since the implementation of the program, and the overall return on the investment was calculated to be 2.43.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since the implementation of the wellness program in 2003, Capital Metro has seen a reduction in costs associated with employee health care and absenteeism.
authors.affiliation: City of Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services, 7201 Levander Loop, Austin, TX 78702, USA. lynn.davis@ci.austin.tx.us
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Loyo
authors.forename: Aerie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glowka
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwertfeger
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Danielson
authors.forename: Cecily
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brea
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Easton
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffin-Blake
mesh_terms: D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration; D013781:Texas