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Cigna Offers Holiday Survival Tips as Part of National Health Improvement Tour

CI | November 28, 2016

Cigna Offers Holiday Survival Tips as Part of National Health Improvement Tour

Holiday survival how-to is part of Cigna's Go. Know. Take Control. campaign
Tips on food, exercise, stress and wellness for a healthy holiday and New Year
New York media invited to experience tour and tips first-hand Nov. 30 and Dec 1

Cigna (NYSE: CI) is kicking off the season with Holiday Survival Tips for everyone. This healthy holiday how-to is part of Cigna's Go.Know.Take Control. Health Improvement Tour, a multi-city tour where Cigna is bringing free health screenings to communities nationwide so people can learn their blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) and take control of their health. These four health numbers contribute to the majority of health costs, as evidenced in the Cigna Affordability Study released in 2015.

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“It’s all the more important to understand these numbers over the holiday season. The annual onslaught of holiday parties and activities tends to bring both joy and strain – including stress, over-indulgence of food and drink, and a downtick in exercise due to dropping temperatures – making it hard to stay on track with personal health and fitness goals,” said Stephen Cassell, chief global brand officer for Cigna.

Cigna’s Health Improvement Tour is an expansion of Cigna's corporate responsibility and philanthropic efforts to bring industry-leading health and wellness programs to communities throughout the country. The tour follows Cigna's latest multi-media campaign, which encourages everyone to get an annual check-up and to know the four key numbers essential to good health.

New York-based media interested in experiencing Cigna's Health Improvement Tour and Holiday Survival Tips first-hand are invited to have their biometric screenings done, as well as talk with experts about nutrition, fitness, stress and wellness at events in Manhattan Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. For more information, contact jackie.kahn@edelman.com or brian.roy@edelman.com.

To help all revelers combat post-holiday guilt and start 2017 on a healthy note, Cigna assembled the following Holiday Survival Tips on diet, exercise, stress and wellness*:

We all struggle with our health and managing our four key health numbers all year long

25% of adults with diabetes don’t know it¹
20% of those with high blood pressure don’t know it²
Less than half of adults with high LDL cholesterol get treatment²
66% of adults are overweight or obese, but only 18% realize it and are trying to lose weight³

But it’s even more difficult to manage four key health numbers over the holidays

The average American consumes more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat, from snacking and from a traditional holiday dinner with turkey and all the trimmings⁴
31% of turkey consumption takes place during Thanksgiving and Christmas⁵
The percentage of adults who exercise at least 30 minutes three or more days per week fell to 49.8% in November, from 52.2% in October and 54.5% in July⁶
90% of Americans report stressing over at least one aspect of the merry season including:⁷
- 68%: Crowds and long lines
- 37%: Gaining weight
- 25%: Traveling

Just by taking small steps, people can stay healthy over the holidays and avoid New Year’s guilt.

Offer to bring a dish to a holiday party and make it healthy, such as a bean and vegetable salad or mixed fruit dessert
Watch out for liquid calories – drink sugar-free hot cocoa, sip on white wine with seltzer water and alternate alcoholic drinks with diet or club soda
Have family and friends participate in board games or play cards – anything that will help keep the attention off of food
A few minutes of meditation per day can help ease anxiety. Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain’s neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress⁸
According to the CDC, regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start.⁹ So, start the New Year on a healthy note: Remember to go schedule your annual check-up, know your four key health numbers, and take control of your health
If you would like to exercise more, eat smarter, sleep better, reduce stress, lose weight or be healthier, check out the Coach by Cigna app and get started on a health routine for you: http://www.cigna.com/about-us/coach-by-cigna/coach

* This material is provided for informational/educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical/clinical advice. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation. The Cigna name, logo and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. © 2016 Cigna

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 90 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

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¹ Centers of Disease Control & Prevention, National Diabetes statistics report, 2014.
² Mozzafarian D, Benjamin EJ, Go AS, et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2015 Update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation.
³ Wilke, Joy, In U.S., Majority “Not Overweight,” Not Trying to Lose Weight, June 10, 2014. Gallup, www.gallup.com/poll/171287/majority-not-overweight-not-trying-lose-weight.aspx. Accessed May 2015.
⁴ http://caloriecontrol.org/stuff-the-bird-not-yourself-how-to-deal-with-the-3000-calorie-thanksgiving-meal/
⁵ http://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/thanksgiving/news/a37888/thanksgiving-statistics-2014/
⁶ http://www.gallup.com/poll/151424/health-habits-continue-steep-winter-decline.aspx
⁷ http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/solutions-holiday-stress
⁸ http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/blissing-out-10-relaxation-techniques-reduce-stress-spot
⁹ https://www.cdc.gov/family/checkup/