Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)
and Exergames
Dr. Sue Wong Gengler, DrPH, CHES
Inland Empire Health Plan
Games For Health Conference,
May 8, 2008

♦ Riverside and San Bernardino
Counties in Southern California
♦ Public entity, not-for-profit
♦ 344,901 Members (March
2008)
♦ Low-income families, and 83%
of Membership is Medi-Cal
(Medicaid)
♦ Recent immigrants, 1st and 2nd
generation

Percent of Overweight Children in California
19 18.8
18 17.4
Percent
17
16.1
15.8
16
15
14
1999-2002 2003-2004
Ages 6-11 Ages 12-19
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics,
2003.

IEHP
Weight Loss Programs
♦ Nine Adult and Pediatric programs
♦ Group and/or individual sessions; range of 4 –
10 sessions depending on program
♦ Commercial programs
♦ No cost and low-cost to members in all lines
of business
♦ Each member who is registered for a program
is tracked for: communications with IEHP,
mailings, types of program registered,
attendance, and outcomes

XRtainment Zone
♦ 8,000 sq ft of exergames and
exertainment equipments that include
DDR, Jackie Chan Fitnes Studio, EyeToy,
etc. for aerobic and isometric workouts
♦ Located in Redlands (San Bernardino
County)
♦ Fitness and nutrition education sessions

XRtainment Zone
Family Fit Program
♦ Contracted in January 2007
♦ Ages 5 - 17
♦ BMI > 85th %tile for age and gender
♦ Primary Care Physician referral
♦ Parent participation required
♦ Biometrics: height, weight, BMI,
percent body fat
♦ IEHP evaluation
♦ Free to members

XRtainment Zone Program (Cont.)
♦ 7-weekly sessions @ 1 ½ hrs each session:
didactic and exertainment games
♦ Sundays (English & Spanish) and Wednesdays
♦ Free access to the Zone during the seven
weeks
♦ Eligible for free monthly membership after
completion of program
♦ Up to four free monthly memberships (approx.
total of 6 months participation)

Members’ Feedback
♦ Like the practical information – portion
sizes, nutrition, exercise
♦ Like the exergames
♦ Seeing some positive results
♦ Too busy to take child to the Zone three times
a week to continue with the free monthly
membership
♦ Too far away

What We Look For In A Program
♦ Accessibility ♦ Languages
♦ Equip members to make ♦ Culturally appropriate
lifestyle changes ♦ Sustainable skills
♦ Previous evaluation or ♦ Doesn’t have to be
outcomes
computer savvy
♦ Family involvement
♦ Nutrition education
♦ Good potential for
desired outcomes
♦ Flexible program times
♦ Willing to revise

Contact Information
Dr. Sue W. Gengler, DrPH, CHES
Inland Empire Health Plan
(909) 890-2039
Email: gengler-s@iehp.org