UnitedHealthcare to Expand Use of Real Appeal Weight-Loss Program

• More than 4 out of 5 participants who completed Real Appeal have
  lost weight
• The first health plan to provide Real Appeal to customers across
  the United States
• Proven weight-loss program available at no additional cost to
  employees as part of their UnitedHealthcare benefits plan

MINNETONKA, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–More than 2.4 million people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare
employer-sponsored health plans will have access to Real Appeal, a
personalized, interactive online weight-loss program that uses personal
coaches and an Internet TV show to motivate people to lose weight, and
get active and healthy.

Real Appeal helps people reduce their risk for weight-related health
conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Recent results show that
82 percent of people who completed the program lost weight; 38 percent
achieved clinically relevant weight loss (5 percent or more).

Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, UnitedHealthcare plan participants who enroll in
Real Appeal will be able to view an online TV show featuring a Hollywood
cast; participate in live, face-to-face video conferencing and
interactive messaging; receive appointment scheduling, alerts and
reminders; and track their goals – all from the convenience of a mobile
phone, tablet or computer. To see Real Appeal in action, click here.

UnitedHealthcare is the first health plan to offer Real Appeal to fully
insured customers with more than 100 employees across the United States,
and the program is available at no additional cost to employees as part
of their UnitedHealthcare benefits plan.

“Real Appeal creates an environment that keeps people intrigued, and
works to ensure their healthier behaviors stick for a lifetime,” said
Jeff Alter, CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s Commercial Group business. “We are
thrilled to offer Real Appeal to our employer customers across the
country to promote weight loss and help millions of people get on the
road to better health.”

Designed to help solve America’s obesity and diabetes epidemic, Real
Appeal gives people tools and resources to help them succeed in their
weight-loss journey. Since its launch last year, Real Appeal has helped
people achieve weight loss and reduce their risk for diabetes and other
obesity-related conditions.

Real Appeal is built on the findings of extensive clinical research on
diabetes prevention and obesity that included more than 10,000
participants and $700 million in funding over 15 years. The goal of Real
Appeal is to reduce the possibility of significant obesity-related
health issues and deliver medical cost-savings.

“Weight-related health issues have reached an epidemic level and are
taking a significant toll on our country’s health and financial
resources,” said Sam Ho, M.D., executive vice president and chief
medical officer, UnitedHealthcare. “We are encouraged by the value Real
Appeal has demonstrated by enabling people to lose weight, make better
choices and live healthier lives.”

More than 100,000 participants have registered in Real Appeal since
launching last year. Of those who completed the program: 82 percent lost
weight; the average number of pounds lost per person is 10; and 38
percent have had clinically relevant weight loss (5 percent or more),
putting them on a path to reduce their risk for weight-related health
conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. To hear Real Appeal
participants’ success stories, click here.

UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, was among the
first large employers to offer Real Appeal to U.S.-based employees.
Other large customers – including 1-800 Flowers, the State of Colorado,
the Employees Retirement System of Texas and the School District of Palm
Beach County in Florida – are making Real Appeal available to their
employees and are already seeing positive results.

“Real Appeal is a win-win. It helps our employees improve their health
and often results in meaningful weight loss,” said Dianne Howard,
director of Risk and Benefits Management, The School District of Palm
Beach County. “Losing weight helps reduce the risk for diabetes and
other diseases associated with obesity, which in turn helps reduce
health care costs. Our employees are responding positively, and we’re
pleased to see strong results that we believe will continue to make a
difference.”

Porter Wilson, executive director, Employees Retirement System of Texas,
said: “We have the opportunity to make a real impact on the obesity and
diabetes epidemic that is taking a significant toll on the health and
financial resources of the state workforce, and at the same time,
deliver savings to taxpayers and state health plan participants. By
working with UnitedHealthcare to offer Real Appeal, we are helping our
employees and their families slim down and get healthier.”

Real Appeal’s message of small changes for lasting weight loss and
better health helps drive participation and weight-loss rates among its
enrollees. Participant satisfaction with Real Appeal among initial
enrollees is 4.84 out of a possible score of 5, with 5 being an
“amazing” experience.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare
is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by
simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and
wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care
providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit
programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees
and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and
contracts directly with more than 1 million physicians and care
professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide.
UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:
UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more
information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com
or follow @myUHC on Twitter.

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Contacts

UnitedHealthcare
Lynne High, 952-979-5861
lynne_m_high@uhc.com