Human Resource Management Article

I'm a student of human behaviour. I enjoy watching people. "What makes them talk like that?" "What makes them act like that?" "What made them do that?" I'm convinced there is no such thing as common sense. I'm sure we've all seen someone do some pretty silly things.

Common sense would suggest that you wouldn't knowingly take a hammer and hit yourself. Common sense would suggest that you wouldn't knowingly walk into a closed door or jam your hand in the trunk of a car. Common sense would also suggest that you wouldn't stand on the very top step of a stepladder. But most people do. Common sense would also suggest that people wouldn't knowingly eat themselves to death. But they are.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in North America. The direct and indirect costs to our health system and company benefit programs are staggering. It's out of control. We have a very serious problem here and we all need to come to terms with it. This epidemic is robbing our youth of their future and our generation of their leisure years in retirement. What can be done about it? Is it a public or private matter? Do companies have the right to get involved in people's eating and exercising habits?

The statistics are astonishing. Fifty percent of adults in Canada are overweight. (I took an unofficial straw pole at the mall the other day and I considered 7 out of 10 people to be overweight. To me your overweight if; while standing at attention you look down and can't see your toes.) Heart disease and stroke cause 40 percent of all deaths in North America. A Canadian study in 1997 found that obese adults aged 18 to 55, had a 5 to 15 times greater risk of hypertension. Hypertension is just a fancy word for high blood pressure. Diabetes rates are skyrocketing. They are expected to double in the next 10 years. The principal cause of the most common form of Diabetes, Type 2, is obesity and lack of exercise.

What can you and or your organization do to promote a healthy lifestyle? Could you implement a healthy choice only policy and monitor what foods and snacks are made available via your lunchroom vending machines and the company-sponsored cafeteria? Could you organize lunch-n-learn sessions and invite guest speakers in to talk about healthy food choices and the benefits of a daily exercise program.

Food giant Kraft made news this week by announcing that it will do it's part and reduce fat content in some of their popular brands. McDonalds, the world's largest fast food restaurant chain has been experimenting with different cooking oils in an attempt to sell friendlier fries. These 2 moves signal a significant shift brought on by consumer demand.

Life is all about choices. Everyone is self-motivated. We have to be convinced that there is a WIIFM in it before we will act. (What's In It For Me). If you want to change your life then you need to change your habits. Good habits equal good results. Only you can change you. There is no diet in the world that will be able to do that unless you are convinced that you need to make the change. If you're looking to make the change a good place to start is by reading my most recent book review, The G.I. Diet by Rick Gallop. Rick's book is currently #4 on the best sellers list. Remember, "You have seen the enemy and the enemy is You!"

Our Health System is Under Attack! (And Your Business)

You Have Seen the Enemy and the Enemy is You


		Brian Smith - Professional Speaker, Training Specialist and Author is considered by many to be a leading authority on soft skills training and leadership development. A trained behaviouralist, Brian understands how challenging it can be to make the kinds of changes needed to bring about a more favourable result. He has worked with a number of individuals and organizations from the public and private sectors to improve their bottom line performance and he will do the same for you. Find out for yourself why Brian is quickly becoming a key note speaker and trainer who is very much in demand.