Can Industry-Sponsored Wellness Programs Improve Patient Outcomes?

I got an interesting email to join a free wellness program.

submitted by

Kenny

The Heart & Stroke foundation sent me an email promoting a new wellness program called "Activate". This is what the email said:

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We created Activate - our free 6-month wellness program that helps you manage your blood pressure for a healthier life. Learn to eat better, move more and manage stress. 

Benefits include: 

• Online health platform with curated content and trackers
• Support from a personal health coach and Loblaws in-store Dietitian
• 2-month free membership to YMCA of Greater Toronto and Oakville (for non-YMCA members)
• PC Optimum points to reward healthy behaviour

Activate will help you eat better, move more and manage stress with our free tools and resources. We’ll be enrolling participants from January - May 2019 across the GTA.

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The eligibility criteria are:

1. ​Are over 40 years old
2. Do not have diabetes
   
3. Are not on blood pressure medication
   
4. Have blood pressure between 121-139 systolic (our volunteers will measure this for you)
   

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There are other supporters as well besides Loblaws and YMCA, such as Public Health Agency of Canada and MaRS

It seems this program is part of a larger study.

You can find out more info here: 

www.heartandstroke.ca/activate/how-it-works