Healthy Boiler's 'HealthKick' virtual wellness program to return

The Center for Healthy Living's six-week “HealthKick” virtual education program supports the Healthy Boiler Program's physical health pillar. (Image provided) Download image

As part of the Healthy Boiler Program, the Center for Healthy Living on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus is bringing back its six-week “HealthKick” virtual education program for a third round. HealthKick addresses physical activity, nutrition education, creation of healthy habits and stress management with the goal of growing those habits into long-term behaviors.

The program is available to all benefits-eligible employees on the West Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Northwest (Hammond and Westville) campuses, as well as dependents covered on a Purdue health plan. This series is appropriate to watch with family members at home if participants would like their kids or spouses to learn more about nutrition. Week one will begin Aug. 3. 

The program is based on daily videos (approximately five minutes in length), delivered via text or email (based on preference) Monday through Friday for the program’s six-week time period. Additionally, the program has three built-in, one-on-one health coaching sessions, which are established at the beginning of the program.

Participants are required to complete a survey at the end of each week that will help provide insight into the health journey of each individual. Health coaches receive the weekly surveys and reach out personally every week to offer support and encouragement; health coaches also will be available for in-person or telephonic health coaching appointments as needed.

“Virtual wellness programming options right now continue to be in high demand,” says Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Resources. “HealthKick is an excellent option for our employees, and it also supports the Healthy Boiler Program and its physical health pillar, which champions health education and more to help individuals achieve lasting physical health and well-being.”

The six-week program runs from Aug. 3 through Sept. 11, and follows the outline below:

• Before the start of the program, participants will talk one-on-one with a health coach.
• Week 1 (Aug. 3-7)
  Topic: Movement and Water, videos 1-5 sent daily; survey 1 sent Friday; personal health coach email/text sent 48 hours following completion.
• Week 2 (Aug. 10-14)
  Topic: Nutrition Label, videos 6-10 sent daily; survey 2 sent Friday; personal health coach email/text sent 48 hours following completion.
• Week 3 (Aug. 17-21)
  Topic: All About Fats, videos 11-15 sent daily; survey 3 sent Friday; follow-up one-on-one meeting with health coach.
• Week 4 (Aug. 24-28)
  Topic: All About Carbohydrates, videos 16-20 sent daily; survey 4 sent Friday; personal health coach email/text sent 48 hours following completion.
• Week 5 (Aug. 31-Sept. 4)
  Topic: All About Protein, videos 21-25 sent daily; survey 5 sent Friday; personal health coach email/text sent 48 hours following completion.
• Week 6 (Sept. 7-11)
  Topic: Creating Habits to Last, videos 26-30 sent daily; survey 6 sent Friday; personal health coach email/text sent 48 hours following completion; follow up one-on-one with health coach.

Registration is due by Aug. 2. Those interested in participating should sign up via the Healthy Boiler Portal. Registration link can be found under the “Engage” tab, “Wellness Events” on the portal’s homepage.

Healthy Boiler workshops are free to all benefits-eligible faculty and staff and dependents covered on a Purdue medical plan. Any questions about “HealthKick” should be directed to the Center for Healthy Living at 765-494-0111.