Philips expands personal health programs with Jovia Coach aiming to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes

"With the prevalence of diabetes on the rise, today, more than 400 million people worldwide live with diabetes and this number is projected to rise to 642 million by 2040 – that's one in every ten adults," said Jørgen Behrens, Business Leader Personal Health Solutions, Philips. "Through our personal health programs, including our new Jovia Coach, we are committed to helping guide people to take small steps to improve their health, with the ultimate goal of helping them lower their risk of this condition."

Changing one's lifestyle is extremely challenging, but can have a big impact on people's current and future health. Jovia Coach aims to help users take small steps to better their health and accompanies them wherever they go. Via the mobile app, users will receive skill-building content and have the ability to complete challenges and tasks, track meals and physical activity, and interact with a personal lifestyle coach and a peer group.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 90 percent¹ of all diabetes cases and is characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes may remain undiagnosed for many years and the diagnosis is often made when a complication appears. It is estimated that 12 percent of the global health expenditure is spent on diabetes.²

"Many cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented by addressing behavioral risk factors such as unhealthy eating, being over-weight and lack of exercise," said Jan Kimpen, Chief Medical Officer, Philips.

Jovia Coach aims to support users to develop and maintain healthy eating patterns and physical activity habits, and foster the skills they need to navigate their social environment and overcome barriers. Jovia Coach is part of Philips' personal health programs which represents a new era in connected care by helping people make small, meaningful changes, which sustained over time, can help people be healthier. The program will be available in the U.S. in English and Spanish during the second quarter and offered through employee benefit programs and health insurance.

Philips will showcase the breadth of its personal and population health offerings in booth #2105 at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2017 Annual Meeting and Exhibition. For more information on Philips' presence at (HIMSS), please visit www.philips.com/himss and follow @PhilipsLiveFrom for #HIMSS17 updates throughout the event.

For further information, please contact:

Kathy O'Reilly
Philips Group Communications
Tel.: +1 978-221-8919
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @kathyoreilly

Kimberley Davidson
Philips Communications, Population Health Management
Tel: +31 627 863 118
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @wanderingkim

About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2016 sales of EUR 17.4 billion and employs approximately 71,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Sources:

1. International Diabetes Federation: http://www.idf.org/about-diabetes. Accessed February 2017
2. International Diabetes Federation: http://www.idf.org/about-diabetes/facts-figures. Accessed February 2017

SOURCE Royal Philips