HealthierFeds Campaign

A Healthier You

Healthierfeds.opm.gov is a web site designed especially for federal employees to help you improve your own health. The campaign has four pillars: Physical Activity; Nutrition; Prevention; and Health Choices. The site also has links to some tools and resources to help you keep your fitness and wellness resolutions.

Physical Activity

The basic goal is to be physically active every day by making it a part of the routine of your life. The web site provides helpful hints about how to get active and how to get started if you have not been physically active for a while.

Nutrition

Healthy eating should be a lifestyle. It promotes good health and reduces the risk for many chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis. It is never too late to start eating in a healthy way. This site provides some helpful tips on healthy foods and reminds us to watch portion sizes.

Prevention

Preventive screenings help identify illnesses and conditions early. This means they are easier to treat and that the treatment will be more successful. Your Service Benefit Plan coverage provides benefits for many screening procedures. Check out Section 5(a) in the 2008 Service Benefit Plan brochure for more information.

This section also includes information about protecting yourself at home, taking medicines correctly, and preventing skin cancer.

Healthy Choices

Healthy choices help you avoid risky behaviors. Making smart choices about smoking, drugs and alcohol helps to promote good health.

You can also get information about the importance of washing your hands to prevent the spread of infections and the use of safety belts to help avoid injury in an automobile accident.

In addition, there is an online tool and resource area that gives you access to additional information such as a menu planner and some self quizzes to help you get started.

You can get all the information at www.healthierfeds.opm.gov to help you get started on the road to a healthier you.

Written by Paula Spurway, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Resources include: healthierfeds.opm.gov and the 2008 Service Benefit Plan brochure. Originally appeared in April 2008.