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Maharishi University of Management is the first university in Iowa to be designated as a Blue Zones Worksite.
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by Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA, The Review
1 December 2014
As part of a statewide project to create greater health, Maharishi University of Management (MUM) recently fulfilled the requirements necessary to be designated a Blue Zones Worksite.
To be designated, an organization must meet criteria in wide a range of areas, ranging from creating a wellness committee to having a certain percentage of bike stations. Plus, 25% of employees are required to have made the Blue Zones Personal Pledge.
The Blue Zones Project, which was initiated by Governor Terry Branstad and is privately financed by Wellmark Blue Cross, is based on Blue Zones principles developed by Dan Buettner, who documented the health characteristics of those regions on Earth with the longest disability-free life expectancy.
The goal is to create a wellness culture—a plan for educating people and creating an environment that facilitates healthy behaviors. The result will be a general improvement in the health and life expectancy of Iowans.
The Blue Zones Project encourages cities to achieve a Blue Zone designation. Because of the efforts of MUM and other worksites, as well as restaurants, grocery stores, and schools, Fairfield is on the verge of being only the second city in the state to receive a city-wide designation as a Blue Zone.
Research has shown that when a city adopts this sort of health initiative, life expectancy increases by 2.9 years.
"It's very forward-thinking of Governor Branstad to embark on this healthy state initiative," said MUM professor Ken Daley, who is chair of the Fairfield Blue Zones committee and who has helped to spearhead the effort on campus.
Mr. Daley said that receiving this worksite designation is simply a first step. The goal is continuous improvement.
Many additional measures to create health are planned, including preventive health screening for faculty and staff and offering more seminars on mental and physical health.
MUM is one of 11 worksites in Fairfield to receive this designation and the first university statewide to be so designated.
© Copyright 2014 Maharishi University of Management
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