Sep 22, 2014 12:19 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of Arkansas system has renewed its partnership with Onlife Health, a national wellness company dedicated to transforming lives through healthier living.

The renewed partnership is expected to bring more innovative wellness initiatives to the University System's employees and their spouses. Since 2012, the University of Arkansas System has made Onlife's wellness program available to staff members in its 18 campuses across the state to help them and their spouses lose weight, quit tobacco, and reduce their risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, and other health risks.

"We're delighted to renew this partnership with the University of Arkansas System," said Danny Timblin, CEO and president of Onlife Health. "System leaders have demonstrated a real commitment for making the University of Arkansas a healthy place to work. Enthusiasm for wellness solutions has grown tremendously since we first launched the program, and participants are seeing incredible results. We are looking forward to building on the positive momentum we've generated and expanding the program to additional campuses in the months to come."

The partnership has helped the University of Arkansas System engage its employees across Arkansas in initiatives to enhance their health and well-being.

Since its initial launch, more than 3,700 University of Arkansas System participants have enrolled in Onlife's wellness program. It provides employees and their spouses with free health assessments, biometric screenings, and health coaching customized to their needs and preferences. It allows individuals to track their wellness online and receive incentives for participation and progress.

Program participants at the University of Arkansas System have achieved many health gains. In less than two years, 77 percent of participants were able to reduce their stress levels, 54.5 percent were able to reduce tobacco usage, and 41 percent lost weight.

With this renewal, the University System has the ability to reach and support staff members located hundreds of miles apart in nearly 20 separate campus locations, providing tools to help achieve individual wellness goals. The University System and Onlife Health are working together to expand the program to additional staff members in the coming months.

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