8 April 2020 | Hospital and clinic network Adventist Health has acquired Blue Zones, an organization working in dozens of cities to promote longevity and community well-being.

According to a press release from Roseville, California-based Adventist Health, Blue Zones works in over 50 communities across the United States and has achieved double-digit drops in obesity, smoking and body mass index (BMI), as well as healthcare savings of millions of dollars.

“This revolutionary move by Adventist Health comes at a time when public attention is especially focused on the interconnectedness of our health to that of our friends and neighbors in the face of the coronavirus crisis. Post-pandemic, a focus on improving and strengthening community and public health will be more critical than ever as communities across the nation and globe navigate recovery,” said the release.

“Adventist Health has always believed in creating environments of belonging and easy access to healthy lifestyles, and we also know that the future of healthcare goes beyond the role of traditional hospitals by investing in our communities to improve people’s overall wellbeing,” Adventist Health President and CEO Scott Reiner said. “Adventist Health’s work with Blue Zones represents the future of healthcare and is a major component of our plan to redefine the role of health organizations across America and strengthens our commitment to inspiring health, wholeness and hope.”

Blue Zones focuses on optimizing environments to improve health by design instead of focusing on individual behaviors.

“Blue Zones is proud to pioneer the advancement of the health of entire cities by systematically improving living environments, so the healthy choice is the easy choice,” said Dan Buettner, Blue Zones Founder and National Geographic Fellow and Explorer. “Adventist Health shares our values, and its vision for community well-being aligns perfectly with our work. We believe that Blue Zones can have an even bigger impact as part of a strong and proven health organization.”

Dan Buettner identified Loma Linda, California, as one of the world’s five blue zones longevity hotspots in a National Geographic cover story in 2005.

Adventist Health has hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, hospice agencies and joint-venture retirement centers in both rural and urban communities, serving more than 80 communities across the western United States and Hawaii. The healthcare system is affiliated with the Adventist Church.

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