FirstAssist, the leading healthcare and wellbeing solutions provider, tested the health of insurance professionals attending this yearís BIBA conference, with some interesting results. The FirstAssist Health Check revealed that the industry likes a tipple with 42% of men under the age of 40 and 52% of men over 40 admitting to excessive alcohol consumption, compared to the national average of 26%. Furthermore, the prevalence of smoking by attendees at BIBA was also higher than the national average.
Women tended to fair better than men and were generally lower than the national average in all categories. However, 88% of women under 40 had elevated cholesterol levels and 100% over 40, compared with the national average of 31% and 61% respectively. It is estimated that raised cholesterol levels causes the death of 47% women nationally. Men were also well above the national average, suggesting the industry could benefit from cutting down on heavy business lunches or eating more healthily.
Tim Ablett, Chief Executive of FirstAssist comments, ìThe good news is that people working within the insurance industry seem to be very active and report to be taking more exercise than the national average. However, this aside, excessive drinking, smoking and weight are issues that BIBA attendees need to address.î
The Health Check was designed to establish each individualís risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in the next 10 years. Certain individual risk factors were highlighted as potential areas of concern. Each subject completed a lifestyle questionnaire and cholesterol and blood pressure was tested. After the test was complete a motivational ëwhat ifí consultation was carried out to observe how changes would modify their profile.
Mark Winder of Singer & Friedlander Insurance Finance Ltd says of the Health Check, There is a history of high cholesterol in my family and at the age of 32 I have been putting off going for a Health Check because I thought it wasn’t really necessary. The Health Check on the FirstAssist stand was a perfect excuse to have my cholesterol tested as well as find out about my general level of health. I was delighted to be told that my cholesterol is completely normal and received lots of useful advice about diet and exercise, which I intend to follow.
Ablett concludes, ìThe Health Check was a popular feature at this yearís BIBA conference and served to reassure those in good health and encourage others to make positive changes. Sickness absence costs business nearly 11 billion every year and many diseases and conditions are preventable. Regular health checks can play an important role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle as well as providing vital advice and guidelines on diet and fitness. We advise everyone to have a little of what they like, but excessive drinking and eating leads to serious health implications. Itís never too late to change those bad habits and a health check is a good incentive as this yearís BIBA attendees discovered.î
FirstAssist reveals the inside story on the health of the insurance industry
Smoking, alcohol and the gym in which order?