By the numbers

Healthier Princeton offers an integrated approach to health promotion and education, disease detection and prevention, and fitness and wellness services for the University community. The Healthier Princeton website at www.princeton.edu/healthier is a new resource for faculty, staff and students to learn about ongoing programs and initiatives organized by various University offices under the Healthier Princeton banner.

Healthier Princeton website

• At the 2008 FluFest and Cirque de Sante health and wellness celebration, 4,957 flu immunizations were given to members of the University community and dependents of faculty and staff. Early prevention screenings also were conducted at the event, including 266 oral cancer screenings, 366 skin cancer screenings, 333 blood pressure screenings and 171 diabetes screenings.

• A Weight Watchers at Work group was started in 2008 by employees at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Thirty-one employees participated in the first 17-week session, and the group lost a total of 388 pounds. A second Weight Watchers at Work on campus group recently started for employees based in the Helm Building. University Health Services currently is exploring organizing a third group for faculty and staff.

• The Healthier Princeton listserv currently has 312 subscribers, who receive information about campus health and wellness programs. Healthy holiday e-mails were sent to 147 faculty and staff at the end of 2008 with information on how to eat healthy during the holidays, remain physically active during winter weather and minimize holiday stress and depression. To join the listserv, e-mail listserv@princeton.edu, leave the subject line of the e-mail blank and in the body of the e-mail write “Subscribe healthier princeton [insert your name].”

• An average of 10 to 15 faculty and staff members participate in weekly meditation groups offered by University Health Services’ Counseling and Psychological Services.

• The cost of an annual membership to Dillon Gymnasium is $205 for faculty and staff, and can be purchased through employee payroll deduction. Currently, 870 staff and 319 faculty are annual members of Dillon Gym.

• Dillon Gym members may participate in more than 100 group fitness and instructional classes. Members can now mix and match classes by purchasing a fitness punch card. Punch cards vary in price depending upon the type and number of classes, such as the $40 punch card to take any 12 spinning classes or the $75 punch card to participate in a choice of 24 group fitness classes.

Related article

For more about Healthier Princeton, see the article about its new website in this issue of the PWB.