1. REGENCE BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF UTAH
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2006
Contact: Kathleen Murphy
(801) 333-5756 – office
(801) 243-2016 – cell
kathleen.murphy@regence.com
Regence Encourages Students to “Move It” and Get Active
Utah health insurer conducts walking challenge with cash rewards for schools
SALT LAKE CITY – A leading health insurer in Utah is encouraging elementary schoolchildren to “Move
It” in an effort to motivate them to be more active and healthy.
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah is sponsoring the 11-week walking challenge for 5th graders,
which motivates kids to get out and walk. The more they walk, the better chance they have to win a cash
award for their school – up to $2,500 for health-related purposes. More than 1,000 5th graders in the
Murray and Washington School Districts are participating in the pilot program.
“The costs associated with obesity are staggering,” said Scott Ideson, president of Regence BlueCross
BlueShield of Utah. “Over the past 20 years, obesity-related hospital costs for children have tripled. With
obesity levels increasing among adults and children statewide, we all need to pitch in to provide
education and encouragement.”
“One out of four Utah children is at an unhealthy weight, putting them at risk of becoming one of the 58
percent of overweight or obese adults in Utah,” said Dr. David N. Sundwall, executive director of the Utah
Department of Health. “Because the health consequences of being significantly overweight are so
serious, we must start preventing obesity by changing our individual behaviors and environments. We
are pleased that Regence is encouraging schoolchildren to increase their level of activity and fitness.”
“Move It” is administered by homeroom teachers who can integrate the program into Physical Education
classes. Regence supplies each student a “Move It” backpack and pedometer to encourage their
participation.
Two teams in each class participate in the competition, which runs through March 24, 2006. Program
elements include personal and team challenges, as well as role models – historical explorers from the
American westward expansion. Participating schools will have a chance to win one of five classroom
prizes, and Regence will reward the three best-performing schools with $2,500, $1,000 and $500. The
money will be used by the schools for health-related purposes.
“We are very excited to participate in the program,” said Jenny Grosh, who is coordinating the program for
the Murray School District. “In my experience, pedometers are one of the best ways to teach kids about
fitness and motivate them to be more active.”
The program is an adaptation of the Regence walking challenge extended to Utah lawmakers during the
current legislative session.
“We want to help raise awareness about childhood obesity and work to reverse this increasing trend,”

2. said Ideson. “As we all know, habits begin at a young age. Our goal is to foster life-long active habits that
reduce stress and promote health.”
About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, established in 1942 as Utah’s first health insurance carrier,
provides benefits to more than 400,000 Utahns. The company is a member of The Regence Group, an
affiliation of four BlueCross and/or BlueShield companies in Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Together, Regence companies insure more than 3 million members and are the largest affiliation of
health care plans in the Pacific Northwest/Mountain State region. The Regence Group and its affiliate
plans are not-for-profit, independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. More than
one in three Americans has coverage from the Blues. For more information, visit www.ut.regence.com.