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The American Heart Association has announced an important new project, teaming with 22 leading CEOs to helps address a growing concern: Wellness in the workplace.

The AHA described the project as an “extensive effort to make the country’s workplaces healthier – an urgent need because of obesity, inactivity, high blood pressure and other chronic health problems in the workforce.”

More details: “The new American Heart Association CEO Roundtable is made up of 22 corporate leaders who oversee a combined 2 million-plus employees across the country. The group will reach out to people at work as part of a larger effort to improve the health of the entire nation.”

The effort follows a new AHA survey “that provide(s) a troubling snapshot for the health of the nation’s workforce, including increased risks for heart disease and stroke – the leading causes of death in the world.” Among the survey results:

• Employees who are encouraged by senior management to participate in workplace health programs are nearly twice as likely to report improved health (61 percent vs. 34 percent) and significantly more likely to report healthy eating (60 percent vs. 33 percent), weight loss (41 percent vs. 27 percent), reduced blood pressure (28 percent vs. 15 percent) and reduced cholesterol (23 percent vs. 14 percent) as a result of program participation.
• Of employees who feel encouraged to participate in workplace health programs, 69 percent report that those programs have a strong impact on job satisfaction. Sixty-three percent cite the availability of programs as important to staying with their employer.
• Fifty-five percent of survey respondents believe it’s important to see a CEO setting a good example in taking care of his or her own health.
• Employees at companies that offer health programs are more likely to know their important health numbers such as blood pressure.

The Wall St. Journal covered the report and added a piece explaining “How Companies Can Make Their Staff Healthier.”