Blue Cross Blue Shield encourages lunchtime walking activities to promote healthy exercise

posted by Lawrence Shipman

In an attempt to curb childhood health and obesity problems by having parents set appropriate examples on how to live and exercise responsibility, Blue Cross and Blue Shield will host National Walk@Lunch Day on April 28.

The campaign, which will run nationwide at each of the health insurance providers companies, will urge company employees to take part various "walking events" during their lunch break with workers from other local companies.

"At a time when there is a significant rise in childhood obesity, National Walk@Lunch Day provides an opportunity for our customers, employers and employees to set an example for our children by incorporating some exercise into their daily workday," said Scott P. Serota, BCBS president and CEO. "An increase in physical activity not only helps improve people's health today; it also protects against serious health problems in the future, and helps control our nation's rising healthcare costs."

Additionally, a hope of the daytime promotion will be to encourage workers who are usually tied to their desk all day to get outside for walking breaks on a regular schedule in order to improve their health and fitness regimen.

Last year, 39 independent BCBS companies had lunchtime walking events across the country, with "tens of thousands" of employees using their lunch break for a half-hour walk.