August 1, 2006 – Contemporary Pediatrics
By: Joe Dysart
It’s time to start podcasting (start what?) for your practice! Dr. Judy discusses podcasting as a medium for her message on childhood obesity.
MR. DYSART lectures and writes about the Internet and is a business consultant in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He has nothing to disclose in regard to affiliations with, or financial interests in, any organization that may have an interest in any part of this article.
With the exploding popularity of pocket-sized digital audio and video players, such as Apple's iPod, so many people have instant access to information at their fingertips in the form of so-called "podcasts." But what exactly is a podcast? And how can its popularity with youth, and, often, their parents, work for your practice?
Pediatric endocrinologist and anti-childhood obesity advocate Judith K. Hochstadt, MD, never set out to be a Web audio pioneer, but she was more than happy to strap on a set of headphones and cozy up to a computer microphone when she realized that podcasting offered a way to reach out to parents whose children are overweight in a new way.
"We were looking for a way to deliver our message with 21st century technology," Hochstadt says of her ever-growing podcast series on the dangers of childhood obesity. "It seemed like a no-brainer."
So what is podcasting?
Anyone who has a teenager or college student in their life knows that podcasts are brief, Web-based, audio programs—usually, 15 to 30 minutes long—that can be downloaded and copied onto an iPod or similar device, often called an MP3 player in reference to a specific type of audio file.
Of course, although Web audio is nothing new, the charm of podcasts—and the buzz they're increasingly generating—is rooted in the medium's portability and ease of use. Thanks to the computer wizards who, ultimately, want to make our lives no tougher than opening our eyelids each morning, subscribing to an ongoing podcast show is no more difficult than visiting a podcasting Web site once, clicking on a "Subscribe" icon, and allowing the computer do the rest.
From there, all subscribers need do is keep a portable digital audio device plugged into a PC on a regular basis and the podcast subscribing service will automatically download the latest program to the device.
Essentially, the process is like TiVo for audio programming, according to David A. Fish, CEO of I Make News (http://www.imninc.com/imn_index.htm), an e-communications service provider that has seen a rapid rise in the number of firms reaching out to clients and customers with podcasts.
"It gives people the freedom to choose when, where, and how they want to listen," Fish says. "They can play a podcast in the background while they do other work on their computers. Or they can download the podcast to a portable MP3 player and listen to it at their convenience—on the commuter train, at the gym, or at home."
Podcasting in practice
Podcasting also gives pediatric clinicians like Dr. Hochstadt, founder of HELP (Healthy Eating Lifestyle Program), based in Fairfield, Conn., (http://www.askdrjudy.com/) a new voice in a new medium. In Dr. Hochstadt's case, she podcasts to spread the word about, first, HELP, which is offered by her firm, and, second, her grave concern that too few parents in the US realize the looming health threat posed by childhood obesity.
"I'm at the point where I can put an entire podcast together in about an hour," Dr. Hochstadt says. "I've found podcasting software to be pretty much idiot-proof. And since I'm so passionate about childhood obesity, I have no problem coming up with ideas." Indeed, in practice, putting together a podcast involves little more than buying a reliable PC-compatible microphone, recording your presentation on your PC using a podcasting software package of your choice, and then simply pressing a "publish" button when you want to upload the resulting presentation to a Web site. Generally speaking, if you have basic PC skills, once you get the hang of things you should be able to create a short podcast for your practice in about an hour.
"I see our podcasts as another way to drive traffic to our site," says Richard Sagall, MD, who once practiced family medicine and is now editor of Pediatrics for Parents (http://www.pedsforparents.com/), an industry newsletter. Podcasting since January, Dr. Sagall says he usually includes summaries of recent newsletter articles in each podcast "show," as well as a question-and–answer interview with a pediatrician.
"The interview usually takes 20 to 30 minutes by phone, and then I do some editing," Dr. Sagall says. "Each show probably takes two-and-a-half to three hours to produce."
George Dunkel, executive director of the American Academy of Pediatrics, District II, based in Lake Success, N.Y., had his first exposure to podcasting as an interviewee, and has been seriously considering adding an ongoing podcasting show to his own AAP District II site (http://www.aapdistrictii.org/),
"I see everyone at the gym, they've all got these iPods," Dr. Dunkel says. "And I can see real value in podcasts for my members. Their time is short, and it would be very convenient for them to be able to have an AAP podcast automatically downloaded to their player, which they could listen to at their convenience. Twenty to 30 minute podcasts on, say, the HPV vaccine, the rotavirus [vaccine]—or even recordings of talks made at conferences that our members couldn't get to—all those make sense to me in podcast format."
The trend is upward
Besides generating a flurry of interest within the medical community, podcasts are also being embraced by a number of other market forces. The New York Times, for example, is now offering top stories of the day in podcast form. MTV has followed suit, serving up daily audio and video podcasts featuring music and related news. And all the major broadcast TV networks and cable news networks, as well as PBS, have been offering podcasts of many of their shows for months.
America Online has also jumped into the fray, adding a new AOL Podcasting 101 domain (http://music.aol.com/radioguide/podcasting). It features a beginner's guide to podcasting, easy access to podcasts on AOL and the Web, and enhanced podcasting search capabilities. The Web monolith has also added a streaming podcast channel to its AOL Radio.
"Our goal is to make it easy for our visitors to discover some of the best of what's available," says Bill Wilson, senior VP of programming at AOL. "The programs we are featuring are great for novices and experts alike. Over the next few months, we will be expanding our podcast experience with more exclusive and original programming—from AOL and from partners."
Still more promotional muscle is coming from podcasting's primary promulgator, Apple. Always trying to find ways to get its products in the hands of educators and students, Apple has volunteered to host and manage lectures, presentations, and other educational fare from any and all takers at colleges and universities on a free podcasting service it calls iTunes U (http://www.apple.com/education/solutions/itunes_u/).Under the offer, colleges and universities need only contact Apple to set up an account, and Apple will create an online virtual podcast community for the institution—complete with school colors and logos, if the institution requests.
Start a podcast service for your practice!
Are you thinking of experimenting with podcasting as a promotional or educational medium for your own practice? If you are, here's a blueprint for launching your own show, courtesy of seasoned podcasters:
First, find an easy way to experiment with the medium. Gabcast.com/ (http://www.gabcast.com/), a free podcast creation and hosting service, is a good place to start. Just stop by, create an account in five minutes, and "phone in" your podcast. You'll see your recording appear in podcast form on a Gabcast-hosted site in only seconds. No fuss, no muss.
Find podcast-creation software that's right for you. Once you have the feel of how a podcast works, you may want to bring some podcast software in-house. Some popular podcast-creation packages and online services include Podblaze.com/ (http://www.podblaze.com/) and IpodderX (http://thunderstonemedia.com/name_change/). For an exhaustive list of podcast-creation software, take a look at Podcast News' excellent directory: (http://www.podcastingnews.com/topics/Podcasting_Software.html).
Keep it short and sweet. Podcasts of 15 to 30 minutes will most likely get the most play, David Fish says. He also urges that your podcast have an unscripted feel. Remember: One of the advantages of the audio format is that it gives you an opportunity to let your hair down. Try a question-and-answer format, Fish says; they tend to be popular.
Be careful where you post your podcast. Podcasts are easy to make, but the resulting huge audio file is a bandwidth hog, and can easily spike the monthly fee you pay your Web host for your Web site. If your practice is big enough to absorb the significant fees that your Web hosting provider will charge once hundreds or thousands of people begin downloading your podcasts, by all means, host the podcast at your own site.
 Figure 1
|
But if you'd rather trim costs, there are specialized podcast-hosting services like Libsyn (http://www.libsyn.com/, Figure 1) that will host your podcast at a discount rate. Unlike many other hosts, Libsyn only charges you for the size of a podcast file—not how many times it is downloaded. The result? Most beginner or intermediate podcasters can get away with a flat fee of $5 to $30 a month.
"I use Libsyn for my hosting," says Dr. Sagall.
Promote your podcast—and promote it some more. Besides posting word of your podcast on your Web site, and including a link to your podcast in every piece of email you can find, you can also post notice of your creation on numerous podcast directories on the Web. Those include Podcast Alley (http://www.podcastalley.com/); FreshPodcasts.com/ (http://www.freshpodcasts.com/); Podcast.net/ (http://www.podcast.net/); Apple Podcasts (http://www.apple.com/podcasting/); Odeo.com/ (http://www.odeo.com/), and Digital Podcast (http://www.digitalpodcast.com/).
 Figure 2
|
Stay current on the podcast industry and its technology. One of the best sources of information for all things podcast is Podcasting News (http://www.podcastingnews.com/, Figure 2). The site zealously collects any type of corporate press release related to podcasting, and also features a podcast directory, forum, and links to podcasting gear and manufacturers. Essentially, this is Stop One for any hungry mind looking for the latest on the industry.
If you still need convincing...
Are you still not sure that podcasting may hold a key to communication with patients and parents in your practice? Just walk into your waiting room—you'll see any number of adolescents, and even many younger patients, as well as some parents, connected to MP3 players while they wait to see you. Just as likely, you'll need to cajole some of those adolescents into removing their iPod earpiece when they sit down with you in the examining room. That's a scenario to get even a hesitant technophobe thinking about podcasting!
June 26, 2006, HealthNewsDigest.com
Diabetes Issues
Water and Diabetics - Three Reasons to Stay Hydrated
WATER & DIABETES: THREE CRITICAL REASONS TO STAY HYDRATED
Diabetic children and adults alike face heightened health risks when water levels fall too low.
(HealthNewsDigest.com).. SOUTHPORT, CT, June 2006 – Type-2 diabetes – the body’s inability to regulate sugars, largely caused by lifestyle factors such as obesity, inactivity and smoking – is nearing epidemic proportions in the U.S. The Harvard School of Public Health estimates that more than 21 million Americans are currently living with the chronic disease (though up to a third of them don’t know it), while another 41 million have “pre-diabetes.” What’s more, while Type- 2 Diabetes is often called “adult-onset” diabetes, about 46% of the overall cases of diabetes currently diagnosed in children are of the “Type-2” classification. (Picture: Nina Riley)
Of the many health concerns those with Type-2 Diabetes grapple with each day, none is more important than the increased need to remain hydrated. Judy Hochstadt, MD, a Connecticut-based pediatric endocrinologist and diabetologist, explains, “Water is a critical necessity for all of us each day, but for those with Type-2 Diabetes, even the slightest decrease in hydration levels can cause serious health problems.” Nina Riley, founder and CEO of Water Sensations, Inc., adds, “Staying hydrated can be particularly challenging for diabetic children, who by their nature may be less compliant with health regimens than adults. The key for kids – and for many adults – is to make these important directives more fun and enjoyable.”
The Diabetes-Hydration Connection
According to Dr. Hochstadt, the body has an intricate process by which it converts the foods we eat into sugar molecules called glucose and delivers it to the bloodstream. Normally, as energy requirements increase, such as during exercise or other times of physical exertion, the cells receive a message to “open up” to take in the glucose and use it for fuel. At the same time the pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream to facilitate sugar utilization by the body’s cells and tissues. In normal individuals, sugar balance is tightly controlled, ensuring that levels don’t spike too high or sink too low. However, in Type-2 diabetes, the body either fails to make enough insulin, or it is resistant to the insulin it does make.
“Even with prediabetes, sugar levels become erratic and the body goes into overdrive to flush out the glucose,” Dr. Hochstadt explains. “It does so by pulling water from cells in order to excrete sugar through urine. For every one glucose molecule excreted, two water molecules must follow; mathematically speaking, it’s fairly easy to see how diabetics are at much greater risk of dehydration,” she adds.
Three Key Reasons to Drink Up
Dr. Hochstadt points out the three top reasons why diabetics – even more so than healthy children and adults – must track their water intake and remain well-hydrated every day:
1. Simple Dehydration occurs countless times during the day to many of us, when we get too busy or forget our water bottle, or when we’re simply not in the mood for a glass of plain H2O. However, in diabetics, skipping a hydrating water break can lead to hyperglycemia – too much sugar in the bloodstream without water to help flush it out – followed by dehydration, as the body robs water from the cells to compensate. Ms. Riley, whose company Water Sensations Inc. makes calorie-free, sugar-free, clear liquid flavor enhancements for drinking water notes, “When water is unappealing, for adults or kids, it’s easy to forget it or delay it. Making it more delicious, whether it’s with a slice of lemon or a sugar- free flavor enhancement, can be instrumental in getting everyone to drink more water.”
2. Exercise-Related Dehydration can occur more quickly in diabetics than in healthy people, and can have more serious consequences. “Because diabetics require extra water to flush high blood sugar from the body, and since the body requires more water in general during sustained periods of physical activity, these two requirements can deplete water levels much faster in diabetics,” Dr. Hochstadt notes. Ms. Riley adds, “It’s even more important for diabetics to drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.”
3. Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome is a complicated way of describing the consequences of severe dehydration in patients with Type-2 Diabetes. While the condition is relatively rare, Dr. Hochstadt warns that it is also life threatening. “In HHNS, the patient may develop severe chemical and acid-based imbalances that may precipitate seizures, kidney failure, coma, and possibly death.” The best way to avoid HHNS is to preempt it by staying hydrated; to prevent its most serious complications, patients must catch it in the early stages by monitoring blood sugar levels regularly. “Any unexplained reading over 500mg/dl is a warning sign, and should prompt immediate attention with a call to the doctor.”
“Our bodies are made up of more than 90% water, and while it’s a crucial element for everyone’s good health, it can be a lifesaver for those with Type-2 Diabetes,” Ms. Riley concludes. “Making water more delicious, interesting, flavorful and fun with sugar- free enhancers like Water Sensations can make it easier for kids and adults alike to get the water they need each day to stay healthy.”
www.HealthNewsDigest.com
© Copyright by HealthNewsDigest.com
June 1, 2006, Connecticut Post
SWEET MOVE - Experts say banning soda in school good first step in fighting childhood obesity.
AMANDA CUDA acuda@ctpost.com
Dr. Judith Hochstadt is no fan of soda.
Hochstadt, a pediatric endocrinologist at Pediatric Healthcare Associates in Trumbull, is co-founder of the Healthy Eating Lifestyles Program, which helps promote better eating habits in kids with obesity problems.
The six-week program teaches participants how to develop health and fitness goals, and helps them create personalized exercise regimens and diets.
Because of her work, Hochstadt is a staunch crusader against junk food. And there are few foods junkier than soda.
"Most of the soda made since the 1980s is made with high-fructose corn syrup," she said. "It's extra cheap, extra sweet and extra stable."
The presence of the syrup in soda "almost parallels the obesity epidemic in this country."
That's why she was an advocate of a bill banning soda in the state's schools, which won legislative approval in April. The bill, which Gov. M. Jodi Rell is expected to sign into law, would take effect July 1, prohibiting soda from being sold during the school day.
Under the bill, sodas could be sold at school-sponsored events outside regular school hours, but not through vending machines.
Many consider the bill one of the nation's strongest soda bans, but it's not the only effort out there to limit youngsters' soda consumption.
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation — a collaboration of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association — is working with soft-drink companies to establish guidelines allowing only low-calorie and nutritious beverages to be sold to schools.
Under the guidelines, no drinks sold in schools would have more than 100 calories per container, except for certain milks and juices. Those beverages would, theoretically, have nutritional value that would outweigh their calorie content.
The guidelines are expected to be in place at 75 percent of the nation's schools by the 2008 to 2009 school year.
Both the state and national action on soda indicate that people are willing to do something to fight obesity, particularly among kids, Hochstadt said.
"We as a nation understand that we can't exploit our children anymore," she said. "I think this is one good-sized dent we can make."
Exactly how big is that dent? Hochstadt said there are about 240 calories in a 20-ounce can of soda, and it takes a consumption of 3,500 calories to gain one pound. Assuming a child has one can of soda a day for a year, he or she can gain 25 pounds that year from soda alone.
"If you eliminate that liquid candy from your diet, it is a huge calorie savings," Hochstadt said.
That's especially true if you take into account that most kids are having more than one soda a day, said Suzanne Fredericks, director of food and nutrition services at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven. Fredericks said that, often, if there's a soda machine at school, kids "will go back to the machine two, three, four times a day."
Though she doesn't think it's necessary to cut out soda completely, that much of the sugary stuff is decidedly unhealthy. "There's nothing wrong with having soda as part of your diet as long as it's in moderation," Fredericks said.
She, like Hochstadt, applauds efforts to take soda out of the schools. "Schools can become like substitute parents," Fredericks said. "I think schools are responsible for setting some examples for children."
But with soda likely on its way out, what are the best beverage options for schoolchildren?
The ban would allow schools to sell milk, nondairy milk substitutes, water and fruit and vegetable juices containing a limited amount of sugar.
Hochstadt said all are preferable to soda, though she has some reservations about juice. Even low-sugar juice should be limited, she said. "You're better off just eating a whole fruit," she said.
The best drink choice is water, Hochstadt said, recommending six to eight glasses a day.
In addition to being healthy, water can be an appetite suppressant, she said. "We often mistake thirst for hungry," Hochstadt said. "We teach if you're hungry after eating, drink water."
Kids often don't drink enough water, so parents have to find ways to make the beverage more appealing. That includes giving kids flavored water — or flavoring the water themselves.
Hochstadt often provides participants in her workshops with Water Sensations, a sugar-free water flavoring created by Fairfield businesswoman Nina Riley.
Water Sensations comes in multiple flavors, and is sweetened with sucralose. It's colorless and absorbs instantly into water. It's been out about a year, and Riley said response to the product is good. She, like the doctors, believes many parents are tired of all the unhealthy options out there for kids. In fact, she was one of them. Riley is a mother, and created Water Sensations as a way to make water more appealing to children. She said she's disheartened by the obesity epidemic and how it's grown.
"The obesity levels in this country have quadrupled over the last 20 years," she said. Our mission is really to be a solution toward fighting obesity in America."
Riley said there needs to be progress in reversing America's problems with weight and health. That was made clear to her during a trip with her kids in 2004. "We went to a water park and I literally wanted to cry," she said. "Myself, my daughter and my son were an anomaly in the waterpark because we were the only ones who weren't overweight.
It just saddened me."
February 17, 2006 - News 12 Connecticut, “On Health” Interviews Dr. Judy
"Connecticut Residents Weight in on the Proposed Bill to Ban Soda in Connecticut Schools"
Excerpt from transcript: “240 calories a day for one soda.” Dr. Judy Hochstadt runs HELP – Healthy Eating Lifestyle Program. “Just one soda a days has the potential for a 25 pound weight gain per year.”
She said it's part of a larger issue for a group she calls generation XXL as in extra, extra large. “It is now the name of this generation. It is worrisome.” But she believes a soda ban in schools could help turn the tide on childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. For example, she said one of her patients just weighed in to find she had dropped more than 25 pounds after completing a HELP workshop and
cutting out sugar-laden drinks.
“It was life altering for this girl. Her numbers have completely stabilized. She no longer has diabetes.”
Governor Jodi Rell of Connecticut said she will approve the bill if adopted as currently written.
February 3, 2006 - In Effort to Address Childhood Obesity Epidemic, Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. Offers Healthy Eating Lifestyle Program (HELP) Milford , Connecticut --- Recognizing the growing epidemic of children who are severely overweight, Rehabilitation Associates, Inc., a full service rehabilitation services facility, has added the Healthy Eating Lifestyle Program (HELP) to its growing roster of pediatric specialty programs through a licensing agreement with HELP LLC.
HELP is a six-week, family-based, intensive nutrition and lifestyle management program designed by Dr. Judith K. Hochstadt, a pediatric endocrinologist at PHA Associates, for nine to 19-year-olds at high risk for obesity related diseases.
HELP participants learn to make appropriate lifestyle choices with the end goal of healthy weight loss while also fulfilling the nutritional requirements of older children and adolescents.
The HELP Program has achieved success in reversing obesity-related diseases, including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, NASH (Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) in hundreds of patients.
Carol Landsman, Director of Rehabilitation Associates points out, “Since our inception in 1979, we have always worked to enhance the health and quality of life for the people we serve. Pediatric obesity obviously impacts long term health issues. Our professional staff is excited to be able to offer the HELP program, which has had such successful outcomes, to address these critical needs.”
“We are delighted to have Rehabilitation Associates as a licensee and are confident that Carol's staff of seasoned health care professionals will use HELP to make a positive impact on the lives of overweight children in their community”, comments Judith Hochstadt, MD, “Dr. Judy”, Founder, President and Medical Director of HELP LLC.
To learn more about enrolling in a HELP workshop at Rehabilitation Associates, please contact Courtney Sansonetti at 203-384-8681. HELP workshops will be offered in Shelton, CT beginning in April 2006.
For more information about the HELP Program or about how to become a licensee, please call Dr. Judith K. Hochstadt, pediatric endocrinologist; at 203-878-4195 or visit us online at www.healthyeatinglifestyles.com .
About Rehabilitation Associates:
Rehabilitation Associates has been providing quality care to the residents of Southwestern Connecticut for over 25 years. The Company offers comprehensive rehabilitation services and programs including specialty programs in aquatics, lymphedema, hand therapy, pediatrics, geriatrics, weight loss and medical nutrition therapy, stress management, sports medicine, ergonomic analysis and return-to-work programs.
Rehabilitation Associates' staff of over 200 clinical and business employees assists patients with everything from navigating the health insurance system to custom-tailoring programs to meet individual therapy needs. Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. is a provider for almost all government, managed care and traditional insurance programs in the area.
Contact:
Analiese Paik, Managing Director
HELP LLC
203-520-3451
January 16, 2006 - The Greenwich Family YMCA is teaming up with Whole Foods Market® (NASDAQ: WFMI), the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, to launch HELP, the new Healthy Eating Lifestyles Program.
HELP is a family-oriented obesity management and weight-loss program providing nutrition and exercise along with family counseling. The six-week program teaches participants to develop fitness and health goals, an exercise regimen and a customized diet. The program focuses on a balanced and common sense approach to nutrition utilizing whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible.
The Greenwich community is invited to a lecture from HELP founder Dr. Judy Hochstadt, a well-respected pediatric endocrinologist, who will speak about the benefits of HELP on Thursday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the Greenwich Family YMCA, 50 East Putnam Avenue in Greenwich .
Bonnie Lee of Whole Foods Market in Greenwich will give HELP participants tips on stocking a healthy pantry with natural foods, provide samples of tasty natural foods and conduct store tours to learn about nutritional options.
"We're proud to partner with the YMCA and HELP to offer... assistance with adopting a healthier lifestyle...
"We're proud to partner with the YMCA and HELP to offer Greenwich families assistance with adopting a healthier lifestyle," said Lee. "At Whole Foods Market, customers can shop with confidence knowing that every item is free of artificial flavors, sweeteners, colorings, preservatives and hydrogenated oils. This makes finding healthy foods easy because you don't have to worry so much about reading labels- and this is important as you're developing healthy new habits."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in obesity rates over the past 20 years. In 1991, four states had obesity prevalence rates of 15-19 percent and no states had rates of 20 percent or more. By 2003, 15 states had obesity prevalence rates of 15-19 percent, 31 states had rates of 20-24 percent and four states had rates higher than 25 percent. This data encouraged the YMCA of the USA to initiate Activate America , a national effort to promote healthy living for Americans. A primary focus of the program is to teach children and teens to develop good lifestyle habits.
HELP arrives at the Greenwich Family YMCA on Tuesday, February 7 at 6:00 p.m. The program includes a six-week Greenwich Family YMCA membership. For more information, or to register for this program, please call Debra Marchese at the Greenwich Family YMCA at 869-1630.
About the Greenwich Family YMCA
The Greenwich Family Y has been a recognized leader and partner in the Greenwich community since 1916. The Y's mission is to enrich the community by promoting positive values through programs that build healthy kids and strong families. For more information please call 869-1630 or visit www.gwymca.org.
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com) is the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America's first national certified organic grocer. In fiscal year 2004, the company had sales of $3.9 billion and currently has 180 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"™ captures the company's mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Whole Foods Market, Harry's Farmers Market®, and Fresh & Wild® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Whole Foods Market employs more than 39,000 team members and has been ranked for nine consecutive years as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by Fortune magazine.
|
About Us 