At Aetna, our focus is on meeting our members' needs. We are dedicated to helping and encouraging our members to live a healthier lifestyle.

Nearly two-thirds of the American population is overweight or obese. This means more people at risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, arthritis, breathing problems and certain types of cancer, as well as psychological disorders, such as depression; all of these conditions are linked to obesity.¹

To address the health care needs of our members, we offer the Aetna Healthy Body, Healthy Weight Program, an innovative program dedicated to:

• Promoting a healthier lifestyle for Aetna members
• Assisting our members in achieving their weight management goals

Participation in the Aetna Healthy Body, Healthy Weight Program is voluntary. Aetna members who participate in the year-long program receive the following:

• Outreach and support from a registered nurse or dietitian
• Coordination with the participant's primary care physician to promote weight loss education
• Discounts to community-based weight loss programs, including Weight Watchers^®, Jenny Craig, Inc.^® and NutriSystem^®
• Nutritional menus that encourage healthy eating and respect ethnic diversity
• Encouragement to participate in and increase physical activity, for example, by supplying a pedometer to help monitor progress in a walking program
• More intensive outreach from nurses and weight loss counselors for participants who have complicating health factors or an increased risk for disease. When necessary, we will refer participants directly to our disease management programs.
• Savings on monthly memberships at nearly 10,000 fitness clubs in the GlobalFit™ network, as well as a gym starter kit and free month's membership.

The Aetna Healthy Body, Healthy Weight Program offers several resources and tools for employers. These resources include promotional items and a work site toolkit.

The Aetna Healthy Body, Healthy Weight Program offers a CD-ROM to help employers promote program participation. Materials, available in English and Spanish, include:

• Member Overview Flyer
• Two Posters: What’s Your BMI? and We’re With You Every Step of the Way
• One Postcard
• E-mail Messaging

We also offer employers additional tools to promote weight loss in the workplace and at home on CD-ROM. Materials are available in English and Spanish and were developed in collaboration with the National Business Group on Health’s Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity.

• Cafeteria audit tool to help employers assess the nutritional quality of their current food service offerings and develop a plan for change if needed
• Information to help employers when contracting with food vendors
• A guide for healthier vending machine solutions
• Helpful hints for promoting physical activity in the workplace
• Posters to promote physical activity in the workplace
• Assorted menu leaflets with culturally appropriate recipes for distribution at work fairs, in the cafeteria or for employees to use at home

As part of our effort to promote better weight management, we reach out to our network of primary care doctors with information on identifying obese patients and the positive impact of weight loss counseling.

The Aetna Healthy Body, Healthy Weight Program is currently available to members with self-funded Aetna HealthFund^® and PPO-based plans whose employers have purchased the benefit.

If you are an Aetna member, find out if you're eligible for the Aetna Healthy Body, Healthy Weight Program by calling the number on your member ID card.

If you are an employer and would like to learn more about the Aetna Healthy Body, Healthy Weight Program, contact your Aetna representative. If you would like to reach an Aetna salesperson, call 860-273-0123 for contact information.

To find out more about weight loss, explore this website.

¹U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The surgeon general's call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General. 2001