The CEO Health & Wellness Survey
CONTENTS
- A CARDIAC RISK PROFILE OF THE CEOs
- SEDENTARY LIFE STATUS OF THE CEOs
- THE STRESS SCENARIO OF THE CEOs
- CANCER RISK PROFILE OF THE CEOs
- CONCLUSIONS
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CARDIAC RISK PROFILE OF THE CEOs: |
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A Cardiac risk profile of the CEOs and the cardiac relevant statistics were as follows: |
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The biggest killer worldwide especially amongst Executives accounting for over 60% Medicare costs & deaths is the heart attack. According to statistics available from Apollo's Computerized Health Scan (PATH CLAPSCAN). 10.26% of CEOs had survived a heart attack in the year under review. Since approximately 50% individuals survive a heart attack, we can generally summarize that the actual incidence of heart attack amongst Chief Executives in India is in the region of 20.52%. Risk of heart attack can comfortably be divided into two categories. Primary Cardiac risk (i.e. High Risk) comprises those individuals who in addition to other cardiac risk factors also have either High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, High Blood Cholesterol, or abnormal ECGs. The existence of any of these factors puts the individual at high risk for a heart attack. Our research statistics indicates that as against the Employees Cardiac risk status of 56.05%, the Chief Executives High Cardiac risk status was 58.07%, with 35.90% having high blood pressure, 12.82% having diabetes, 23.08% having elevated blood cholesterol, with several having more than one of these ailments. Other factors that predispose an individual to heart attacks, high blood pressures, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, etc. are; a sedentary life; obesity; high levels of stress; & smoking. Beyond the 58.97% high-risk category indicated earlier, an additional 30.77% CEO’s come into this category of secondary Cardiac risk. As regards Cardiac health, how does the CEO compare to the executives working in his organization. Research reveals that the CEO is more at risk than his executives with 58.97% high risk on compared to 56.05% high risk amongst executives. In addition, the CEO seems more prone to hypertension also with a ratio of 35.90% as opposed to 25.30% amongst other executives. |
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SEDENTARY LIFE STATUS OF THE CEOs: |
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Executives perks include, the latest cars, 5 star hotel stay etc. These symbols of success come with a great cost to personal health. 82.05% of Chief Executives were found to be overweight. 76.92% CEO’s had stomachs that were larger than their chests. 51.28% CEO’s ate out at 5 star facilities more than twice a week. 51.28% subsisted on a high fat diet, of butter, eggs, cheese etc. 48.72% ended each meal with savoury desserts of cake, ice cream or a helping of mithai, 25.64% snacked between meals with highly salted wafers & nuts. With such high calorie in take, one would imagine that Chief Executives would be full of energy & activity; however the facts speak differently. 69.23% of CEO’s were found to be in hopelessly poor physical fitness condition. 58.97% were unable to touch their toes, 61.54% were unable to do a single push up or sit up & 28.20% had never exercised since their childhood. So what does this sedentary life predispose the CEO’s to. Heart attacks, High Blood pressures, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, arthritis, spondylosis, backaches, digestive disorders, ulcers, sexual incompetence, insomnia etc, to name just a few ailments. And this predisposition it seems is a reality, with over 56.41% CEO’s taking daily medication to overcome these ailments, when a simple remedy of eating less & being more physically active would rid them of all these ailments. Incidentally world wide it is now acknowledged that the simple most health beneficial habit, to guarantee good health is daily exercise. How does the CEO compare to his executives in terms of Physical Fitness badly unfortunately. While executives obesity is at 70.98% CEO’s stand at 82.05%. Executive unfitness is at 48.46%, whereas CEO’s come in at 69.23%. Similarly CEO’s had larger tummies, at 51.28% as compared to 35.28%, & took more frequent medication at 56.41% as compared to 30.31%. |
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THE STRESS SCENARIO OF THE CEOs: |
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(In%) |
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Stress Ailments |
100.00 |
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Headaches |
28.21 |
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Asthma etc |
12.82 |
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Ulcers etc |
53.85 |
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Backaches |
38.40 |
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Allergies |
25.64 |
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Insomnia |
23.08 |
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Multi Stress |
69.23 |
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Personality Stress |
69.28 |
No discussion on Executive Health can take place without the mention of Stress. Stress in this context simply means mental pressure; i.e. the pressures involved in doing a job. However in order to accomplish the task several problems have to be overcome, this causes tension & stress, resulting in physiologic, neurologic and endocrinic reponses in the body. If the stress continues for a period of time, or if this happens too often; these body changes become permanent, resulting in various psychosomatic ailments. (psycho meaning mind, soma meaning body; i.e. mind affecting body). Our study revealed that a startling 100.00% of Chief Executives suffered from psychosomatic stress ailments. Besides High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cholesterol and abnormal ECG other Stress ailments suffered include;
- 28.21% executives suffered frequent headaches
- 12.82% suffered respiratory ailments including asthma
- 53.85% had digestive problems including ulcers
- 38.46% suffered from arthritis, backache & other joint problems
- 25.64% suffered from various allergies & skin problems
- 23.08% were unable to sleep well & suffered from insomnia
So where is all this stress coming from ? Surprisingly it is not from the corporate organisation. In spite ofall the problem that exist in Indian Industry only 10.26% Chief Executives looked upon their jobs as stressful. The stress was certainly not coming from their homes, less than 5.13% had home problems. The stress was neither coming from financial problems or legal problems, less than 33.00% complained of these stresses. 43.59% did complain about their daily routines; too little time at home, too much time spent at work, too little time for leisure & relaxation. However the major stressor it turns out is personality. 58.97% of Chief Executives have a Type A stress prone personality. This personality type comprises individuals who are time pressured, impatient, feel compelled to win & are by nature critical & condescending etc. This type A Executives also referred to as a Cardiac prone personality, is then the major cause of Stress in Indian Industry.
So, is the CEO more stressed than the team he leads? The answer is, ”Yes”. While 83.71% executives complained of stress related ailments; the figure for CEO’s stood at 100.00%. Also, CEO’s had more ulcers, 53.85% as compared to 40.05%; more backaches 38.46%, as opposed to 37.47; & less sleep 25.08% as compared to 15.02%. CEO’s had stress coming from several areas, 69.23% as compared to Multi stress for Executives at 32.76% & most significantly, CEO’s rated at 69.28% Type A personality as compared to 57.52% amongst Executives.
CANCER RISK PROFILE OF THE CEOs:
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(In%) |
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High Cancer Risk |
30.77 |
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Industrial |
7.69 |
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Smoking |
15.38 |
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Alcohol |
15.38 |
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Paan |
2.56 |
If Cardiac ailment & stroke are the leading killers, then certainly Cancer with a 20% mortality rate worldwide is the 2nd biggest killer. According to the PATH CLAPSCAN study 30.77% of Executives stood the risk of getting cancer in later years. (Remember it takes 20 years for cancer to gestate). Of this 7.69% from exposure to Industrial chemicals, fumes & radiation; 15.38% due to chronic smoking (1 packet and more for last 10 years); 15.38 due to alcohol, (2 pegs & more daily for the last 10 years) and 2.56% due to paan & paan products.
How does these figures compare with Chief executives. CEO’s smoke more, 15.38% as compared to 14.09%, & drink more 15.38% as compared to 5.72%; consequently their risk for Cancer is marginally higher at 30.77% as compared to 30.31% for Executives. CEO’s eat less paan, 2.58% as compared to 6.47%, & are less exposed to carcinogens, 7.69% as compared to 11.02% amongst Executives.
CONCLUSION:
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(In%) |
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Cardiac Risk |
58.97 |
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Cancer Risk |
30.77 |
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Overweight |
82.05 |
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Physically Unfit |
69.23 |
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Psychosomatic Stress |
100.00 |
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Daily Medication |
56.41 |
The facts speak for themselves. With 58.97 % Chief Executives at risk for Heart attack; 82.05% Executives overweight; 69.23% physically unfit for their age group; 100.00% suffering from psychosomatic stress ailments, 30.77% at risk for cancer & 56.41% on daily & frequent medication; the status of Health of our Chief Executives is at best dismal. What should they do? For the CEO’s the solutions are quite straightforward Eat less, Exercise more, cut the booze, quit smoking & relax.
And what should CEO’s do to improve the health of the executives in their organization. Contact me, I guess, & I will train one executive from amongst their team, to lead their organization, from Illness to Wellness
Prof. Adrian Kennedy