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Carole Mikita ReportingRising insurance costs have caused many American corporations to focus on employee health. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with thousands of employees, has recently begun doing the same.
As we reported yesterday, a recent study by a couple of BYU professors discovered that Latter-day Saints in Utah are more than 10 pounds heavier and less physically fit than those of other faiths. Now there are missionaries focusing on health.
Elder Don Ziegler, Wellness Missionary: "If it turns out well and it looks like we've got something good going for us, then we take it to the authorities for authorization and funding."
Don and Sharon Ziegler are the first missionary couple in a pilot program. Their focus is health, safety and physical fitness of church employees. Church administrators are seeing health care costs skyrocket. Many of their employees are overweight, which has resulted in diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease.
Sister Sharon Ziegler: "Healthful living, we just keep pushing that. If we get 'em up, get' em out of their seats, get' em walking, they'll have a lot more fun with life."
BYU Professor Steve Aldana says it is time church leaders to address this issue. His book points to poor health in his faith and in America, and how to change it.
Steve Aldana, Ph.D. BYU professor, Lifestyle Medicine: "The Church has been very silent about this issue, but now it's starting to come up as an enemy among us. And we need to address this, it's going to affect how long we live."
Right now, about 150 Latter-day Saints who are church employees receive e-mails and attend seminars and are involved in a climb to the top promotion. Instead of taking the elevator a couple of floors, they walk the stairways."
The Zieglers know of what they speak. A few years ago he lost 60 pounds, she lost 20. They hope to encourage those they teach to make it an issue of faith.
Elder Ziegler: "We honestly believe that they need to work with the Lord in developing a program that fits them. We're here to facilitate that as best we can."
This mission remains for now an experiment. If successful, there may soon be more couples who devote their time and energy to helping their fellow believers discover the benefits of good health.
