Novo Nordisk has success with health program

Seven years after the introduction of health checks for Novo Nordisk employees, figures show that the NovoHealth program, which is run in collaboration with Health Group, is living up to its goal.
"We can see that they now have fewer risk factors that can cause health problems later in life," says Jesper Rud Kirkegaard, project manager for NovoHealth.
From 2008 to 2013, the proportion of employees without risk factors increased from 42% to 50%. The risk factors are defined as blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels above a certain level, as well as smoking, fitness and waist circumference, and are identified during the regular health checks that Health Group conducts for employees.
Since New Year, it has been mandatory that all Novo Nordisk employees are offered a health check at least every two years.
The proportion of employees with one or two risk factors has also decreased from 48% to 43% and the proportion with three or more risk factors from 11% to 7%.
Novo Nordisk itself provides follow-up support to the NovoHealth program, so in addition to the health check, employees are also offered targeted help to quit smoking and become more physically active.