(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman today congratulated state employees who have reached the goal in the Walk This Way wellness program. Participants were challenged to meet or exceed 360,000 steps by March 31, 2010. To date, approximately 35% of enrolled employees have met or exceeded their distance goal, including Gov. Heineman. More than 70 state employees have reached 1 million steps.

“Employees are demonstrating good progress with the wellness program,” said. Gov. Heineman. “Activities such as our walking program help state employees lead more healthy and active lives – something all Nebraskans can strive for. Congratulations are due to those leading by example.”

The program began on July 6. Currently, participating employees are averaging over 436,000 steps with the total of all participant logged steps at approximately 254,000 miles or over 10 times around world.

Walk This Way is a program designed to help boost employee activity level and enhance overall health by increasing physical activity. Outcomes as a result of Walk This Way program include increased physical activity, weight loss, reduced stress, lowered cholesterol, lowered blood pressure, and more energy.

Twenty-six percent of state workers are enrolled in the wellness plan. Nebraska is believed to be the first state offering state workers a comprehensive plan for health insurance designed to encourage wellness and healthy lifestyles. A total of 3,594 workers initially enrolled in the Wellness PPO plan and 2,540 employees enrolled in the Walk This Way program.

In addition to the Walk This Way program, there are two additional programs in the wellness plan. There is a Health Coaching program which currently has 2,578 employees enrolled and focuses on lifestyle choices such as physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation, and stress management. The final program is a Condition Management coaching program which focuses on seven chronic areas associated with heart and respiratory conditions, depression, diabetes, and back pain and has 93 employees enrolled.