Montgomery, AL – Worksite wellness screenings of Alabama's state government employees have found that 30 percent have health risks like high blood pressure and obesity, with some on the brink of a health catastrophe.
The State Employees' Insurance Board screened more than 28,500 - or 76 percent - of state employees from January through July.
Screeners found that 17 percent were obese, six percent had high cholesterol, five percent had high blood pressure and two percent had high blood glucose levels.
Board CEO William Ashmore said most of the people didn't know they were at risk and some were just days away from something catastrophic happening.
Those who don't take steps to improve their health will pay an extra $30 a month for insurance next year.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)