CONCORD TWP., Ohio, February 17— For the second year in a row, Lake Health was named a Start! Gold Fit-Friendly Company from the American Heart Association (AHA) for championing the health of employees by creating a culture of wellness in the workplace.

The “Gold-level” recognition is for companies that fulfill criteria such as offering employees physical activity support; increasing healthy food in cafeterias and vending machines; promoting a wellness culture; and implementing a designated number of activities in physical fitness, nutrition and cultural areas.

This year, more than 1,200 businesses across the nation have been recognized by the American Heart Association's Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program for promoting physical activity and health in the work place. Start! is the American Heart Association’s national initiative to get Americans walking. Most adult Americans spend a majority of their waking hours at work — many in sedentary careers — increasing their risk for medical problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

“This honor from the American Heart Association is especially meaningful to us at Lake Health, as we strive to set an example for the community by building a culture of wellness among our team members,” said Cynthia Moore-Hardy, president and CEO of Lake Health. “A healthy workplace leads to better health, longer lives and lower health-care costs for everyone. We’ll continue to seek out new and innovative ways to further support the health and wellness of our team members.”