Bulldogs join the party as WorkHealth passes 100,000

The Western Bulldogs yesterday became the latest Victorian employer to sign up for WorkHealth checks, joining more than 6,500 businesses that are already on board.

As the number of Victorian workers to get a free WorkHealth check ticked over 100,000, Premier John Brumby visited the Western Bulldogs' Whitten Oval base to mark the milestone.

At the event, Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade and Premier Brumby both stepped up for a demonstration WorkHealth check to show how quick and easy they are.

Results from the 100,000 checks reveal that not every workplace is full of elite athletes like the Western Bulldogs. They include:

• 832 Victorian workers tested were found to have a very high risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes and advised to see a doctor within 24 hours of their WorkHealth check,
• 39% of workers tested were found to have a high risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes,
• 48% of male workers were found to have a high or very high risk of developing type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease, as compared with 32% of females,
• 93% eat less than the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables, and
• 73% reported inadequate exercise.

Addressing the media at the event, Premier Brumby blamed lifestyle choices for the poor bill of health.

"They are deeply disturbing figures," he said.

"The point is, the biggest killer of people today is not communicable diseases as it was a decade or a century ago, it's now non-communicable diseases.

"So it's all the lifestyle diseases... that come from being overweight or unfit or with high blood sugar, or high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.'

Campbell Rose, Bulldogs CEO, said the footy club was very much on board with the program and looking forward to offering WorkHealth checks to its staff.

Find out more about providing free WorkHealth checks at your workplace.