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Your Health

USG supports you and your family with programs and resources to help you improve and maintain good physical health. Whether you’re losing a few pounds, preventing or managing disease or taking simple steps to be healthier — we want to help you on your journey! 


  • Diabetes Prevention and Support

    Diabetes is a serious and often life-threatening disease that affects millions of people in the U.S. today. Preventing diseases like diabetes is an important part of maintaining good health, and USG is here to support you.

    Facts about Diabetes

    Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most people’s bodies naturally produce the hormone insulin, which helps convert sugars from the food we eat into energy that the body can use or store for later. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make insulin or doesn’t use its insulin well, causing your blood sugar to rise. High blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems over time. There are different types of diabetes, and it’s important to stay informed so you understand your risks and how to best prevent the disease. Learn more about diabetes at CDC.gov.

    Diabetes Prevention Programs  

    In partnership with University of Georgia Extension, USG Well-being is offering the CDC-recognized diabetes prevention lifestyle change program, PreventT2, to all employees whether or not they are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan. The PreventT2 lifestyle change program is a structured program — in person or online — developed specifically to prevent type 2 diabetes. It is designed for people who have prediabetes or are at risk for type 2 diabetes, but who do not already have diabetes. Learn more about the program and how to find one near you.

     

    Click on the button to see if you are at risk for developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. 

     

    Kaiser Permanente offers programs for diabetes prevention to members and eligible spouses enrolled in the Kaiser health plan. As a Kaiser member, you can join Omada at no cost to you. Omada is personalized to help you reach your health goals — whether those are losing weight, gaining energy or improving your overall health.  

    Here’s what you get when you join:

    • Advanced technology: Track your progress with ease with a wireless smart scale.
    • Dedicated health coach: A coach is there for the support you need to get going and keep going.
    • Weekly health tips: Tips for better eating, fitness, sleep and stress management.
    • Support Group: A small support group of peers for encouragement.

    Kaiser members learn more about these programs

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes, and one in five of them don’t know they have it. 96 million U.S. adults — over a third — have prediabetes, and more than eight in ten of them don’t know they have it. Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

  • Weight Management

    Maintaining a healthy weight is another important aspect of your overall health. 

    Weight Loss Program through Your USG Healthcare Plan

    USG offers weight loss support through WeightWatchers® for all employees and their spouses enrolled in a USG healthcare plan. Developed by nutrition and behavior change scientists, the WeightWatchers program guides you toward healthier habits with an individualized nutrition plan and innovative tools rooted in science. 

    Here’s what you get when you join:

    • Science-backed personalized program that fits your needs
    • 12,000+ recipes for healthier meal inspiration
    • 200+ no-track ZeroPoint® foods
    • New What to Eat feature, barcode scanner, and restaurant search in our easy-to-use app
    • Supportive members-only digital community

    Current Weight Watchers member: If you are already a Weight Watchers member, you can sync your account to receive the program at no cost to you.

    If you are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan, learn more and register for WeightWatchers® today.  

    Call WeightWatchers® at 1-866-204-2885 or:

    According to the CDC, poor diet and low levels of physical activity affect overall health and are significant risk factors for obesity and chronic disease. Obesity in the United States affects 100.1 million (41.9%) adults and 14.7 million (19.7%) children and accounts for approximately $147 billion in annual healthcare costs.

  • Smoking Cessation

    USG is here to support you and your loved ones in your journey to quit tobacco use and improve your health.  

    Tobacco Cessation Programs through Your USG Healthcare Plan

    If you are enrolled in a USG healthcare plan, you have access to tobacco cessation resources through your healthcare plan.  

    Free Tobacco Cessation Programs and Resources

    Not enrolled in a USG healthcare plan or looking for additional resources? There are many tobacco cessation programs and resources, and several are free or low-cost. Take a look!  

    • The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line is available 24/7, including holidays. Help is available in a variety of languages. Visit the website or call 1-877-270-STOP (7867).
    • Become an Ex-Smoker is an online program to help you quit tobacco.
    • Freedom from Smoking  is a program through the American Lung Association (ALA). The ALA has many resources and offers face-to-face and virtual classes.
    • SmokefreeTXT is a mobile text messaging service designed for adults and young adults across the United States who are trying to quit smoking. The program was created to provide 24/7 encouragement, advice and tips to help smokers quit smoking for good.
    • National Cancer Institute’s LiveHelp. Smoking Online Chat connects you with a Cancer Information Specialist who can chat with you about general cancer information as well as quitting smoking.
    • Kill The Can  is a website with resources to help you quit using all types of smokeless tobacco.

    You can always find free, helpful resources to inform you about the health effects of tobacco use and steps to start your journey towards quitting at any of these websites:

    Free Tobacco Cessation Apps

    If you are looking for free tobacco cessation mobile apps, here are a few to consider:

    • NCI QuitPal  is a free app from the National Cancer Institute that supports smokers working to become smoke-free. This interactive app was developed using proven quit strategies and tools to help change behavior and assist you with giving up smoking.
    • QuitSTART is a free smartphone app that can help you track your cravings and moods, monitor your progress toward achieving smokefree milestones, identify your smoking triggers and upload personalized “pick me ups” and reminders to use during challenging times to help you successfully become and stay smoke-free.
    • QuitGuide is a free app, written by tobacco control professionals and cessation counselors, with the help of ex-smokers. This app is designed to help you prepare to quit smoking and support you in the days and weeks after you quit.

    The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is committed to providing a healthy environment on campuses. We recognize the serious health implications of both the direct use of tobacco products and indirect exposure to the use of tobacco products. We also recognize our responsibility to promote the health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and visitors. In March 2014, the Board of Regents chose to make USG 100% tobacco- and smoke-free, effective October 1, 2014. Tobacco- and smoke-free campus policy: "Tobacco products" are defined as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, all forms of smokeless tobacco, clove cigarettes and any other smoking devices that use tobacco, such as hookahs, or simulate the use of tobacco, such as electronic cigarettes. USG hopes you enjoy the healthier environment we’re creating for you and visitors to our campuses and facilities. If you have more questions, please contact us at USG-TobaccoFree@usg.edu.

  • USG Well-being Rewards Program

    The USG Well-being Rewards Program is better than ever, placing a renewed focus on your health! This is just one more way USG supports you in achieving better health — and rewards you for your efforts!  


    Program Highlights

    Employees and spouses enrolled in a USG healthcare plan each have the opportunity to earn $100 in rewards for completing well-being activities. Rewards are paid out in the employee's last paycheck in November. The earning period starts January 1, 2025, and ends September 30, 2025.  

    The USG Well-being Rewards Program and activities are managed through your USG healthcare plan provider — Anthem or Kaiser.  

    Anthem Members

    Kaiser Permanente Members

  • Well-being Newsletters

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