Statewide project will mean healthier Iowans and up to $16 billion saved

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has issued a statewide challenge to make Iowa the Healthiest State in the nation. The goal is to be the healthiest state by 2016 as measured by the Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index^®.

If successful, this initiative could allow Iowa to redirect as much as $16 billion over the next five years. These funds that would have been spent on health care could instead be used to grow the state's economy.

The Blue Zones Project^TM — Creating Healthier Communities
Wellmark is proud to play a major role toward achieving this goal through The Blue Zones Project^TM.  “Blue Zones” is a phrase coined by Dan Buettner, an author and researcher who studies why people in some areas of the world live longer, healthier, happier lives. 

Wellmark will lead a community-by-community movement to improve the well-being of Iowans based on Blue Zones learnings.

A number of communities around the United States have used this research to develop tools and programs to help their citizens live longer, happier lives, with lower rates of chronic disease.  Blue Zones findings have received national media attention including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Good Morning America," "Anderson Cooper 360," and "ABC Nightly News."

Go to The Blue Zones Project  to learn more.  And if you’re an Iowa citizen or community—learn what you can do to apply to become a Blue Zones Community.