by Neville Gilfoy

There is a disturbing statistic circulating suggesting that within a few years, health care costs will consume every dollar of provincial governments’ revenues. Novaknowledge, a member-based organization, recently released a report on health and workplace safety, which draws on research available from a variety of regional organizations.

The data is terrifying. The Atlantic region has some of the highest percentages in Canada of obesity, high blood pressure, heavy drinking, diabetes, and mortality due to lung and colorectal cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. These conditions and diseases are partly why we have ongoing economic challenges—because chronic illnesses, including those related to mental health, and long return-to-work timeframes hamper productivity.

As employers, we must be leaders when it comes to implementing workplace wellness programs in our companies. We can’t expect governments to take care of this for us. A couple of years ago, I chose to change my lifestyle and committed to better nutrition, less drinking, and regular physical activity, including running and gym workouts. I also got involved with the Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon and, after losing 60 pounds, I ran 10K in 2009.

But while I changed my lifestyle and was able dial back into my own company, it has only recently occurred to me that if I want my company to really prosper, everyone working here must to be committed to a healthy lifestyle. I’ve learned that I’m not just responsible for myself; I’m also responsible for my entire crew. This year I’m encouraging the Progress team to get involved with “The Blue Nose,” either by running or volunteering. My company also offers discounted gym memberships, and in the past year some of my colleagues have begun to follow the same nutritional program as I do.

Just as companies must respect their communities and the environment, so must they take responsibility for their staff’s physical and mental well-being. The Novaknowledge report offers conclusive evidence that we aren’t a healthy region. It doesn’t require a big stretch to connect poor health to economic performance. The popularity of the Blue Nose Marathon (and other marathons across the region), and the fact that it currently attracts about 9,000 participants of all ages and levels, suggest that many of us are already embracing a healthy lifestyle. We can only get better as more Atlantic Canadians get onboard.