Media Contact:
Jill Becher
(414) 226-5413
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (BCBSWi)
Foundation, the charitable giving arm of WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP)
in Wisconsin, is partnering with the Wisconsin Academy of Family
Physicians (WAFP) to help educate physicians and patients in the
value and use of Body Mass Index to reduce overweight and obesity.
The Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians will receive a $25,000
grant from the Foundation to fund this initiative.
The Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians plans to expand the use
of an existing tool for measuring obesity and overweight – the Body
Mass Index (BMI) – to help patients and physicians assess and
better manage obesity and patients who are overweight or suffering
from weight-related conditions. Through this initiative, the WAFP
plans to:
* Develop a baseline of how many
Wisconsin physicians are regularly measuring BMI
* Educate Wisconsin physicians on the
importance and significance of regularly measuring and tracking BMI.
* Create tools for the physician and
patient to use in measuring and tracking BMI.
* Create educational materials for
patients to understand the relationship between BMI and obesity and
overweight.
* Develop a process for ongoing
assessment of the use of BMI by physicians and any correlation
between its use and reduction in obesity and overweight.
Individuals who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of
developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma, arthritis and
other diseases.
“The increasing incidence of obesity is a serious health issue,”
said Stuart Campbell, president of BCBSWi. “This initiative will
further help physicians tackle the issue of obesity in Wisconsin and
help Wisconsinites achieve and maintain a healthy weight.”
BMI is one of many factors related to developing a chronic disease.
BMI is a measure that takes into account a person’s weight and
height to gauge weight status and approximate measure of body fat.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone
with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, which is
generally believed to carry moderate health risks. A BMI of 30 and
higher is considered obese. The higher the BMI, the greater is the
risk of developing additional health problems.
“Family physicians focus on preventive care and often have life-long
relationships with patients. This puts us in a unique position to
work with our patients and their families to address an issue like
obesity before it leads to other more serious health problems,” said
Erik Gundersen, MD, WAFP President. “This grant will help us lower
health care costs caused by obesity-related conditions. We applaud
the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin Foundation for its support
for our efforts to educate patients and physicians about the
benefits of maintaining a healthy weight.”
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin Foundation
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin Foundation focuses on
initiatives that will make health care more accessible and
affordable, improve quality of care, support the development of
health-related public policy, and help establish best practices in
medicine. The Foundation focuses on developing social investment
programs and partnering with nonprofit public charities whose
projects and programs closely align with Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Wisconsin’s health care priorities.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin Foundation is an independent
licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
