ERMUDA'S first online medical resource was launched this week, affording computer users the chance to scour information on health and wellness for free.

Offered by the Argus Group, the Online Wellness Centre (OWC) is part of the company's continuing efforts to improve wellbeing in the community.

With that in mind, the OWC offers a store of information on diet and exercise to the general public, all conveniently accessed by clicking on the wellness logo on the homepage of the Argus web site, www.argus.bm.

The OWC could prove even more valuable to the company's clients, its design such that it is capable of offering a personalised evaluation of their wellbeing.

"The purpose of the Online Wellness Centre is to provide the community with the tools they need to live a long, healthy and active life," explained Gerald Simons, president and chief executive officer of the Argus Group.

"Wellness is a way of living that emphasises preventative measures such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and reducing stress. By decreasing the risk of chronic disease, preventing injuries, banishing environmental and safety hazards from your home and workplace, we hope to reduce healthcare expenditure and improve the quality of life for us all."

The Argus Group initiated its wellness campaign more than a year ago. Since then, the company has employed various methods to educate its clients and the general public as to which habits shorten lives and ultimately drive up the cause of healthcare. As well, it works to enlighten residents on those practices which are beneficial to their health.

The new online resource intends to further the campaign's efforts. As explained by the company, it was designed to provide tools "for identifying health risks and will also make available health education materials and action plans to positively impact behaviour and promote healthy lifestyles."

The OWC provides advice on common health issues but will also address specific questions, according to the company's wellness manager, Catherine Burns.

Supplying the information is a host of healthcare professionals ? physicians, dieticians and psychologists who ensure that the medical opinions offered are accurate and up-to-date. Together, they have compiled answers to Bermuda's most common health questions.

Should visitors to the web site not find the answer they want, they are able to submit a query by e-mail and should expect an answer within 48 hours.

"It's just a great resource," said Mrs. Burns. "Everything's so up-to-date. It's basically run by Wellsource, one of our wellness partners in the States which has more than 20 years in the healthcare management field.

"Users of the site can gain advice on common issues of concern relating to their health including alcohol and drug abuse, fitness, nutrition, smoking and weight management. The site also allows users to access information targeted to specific age groups such as teens or seniors. In addition there are resources on disease prevention and management, emotional health and complementary medicine."

She pointed out that while health insurers generally do not cover complementary therapies medical professionals realise that there are those who swear by their results. For that reason, such information was included on the Argus site.

"We're by no means saying that access to the Online Wellness Centre replaces the need for constant medical attention from your GP," Mrs. Burns said. "But there are times when people don't bother to book a doctor's appointment because they think that their question is too small.

"So this kind of resource is really great. You may be very busy but at work, if you've got five minutes, you can quickly go online and learn a little bit more about (your problem).

"It includes information on diet and lifestyle and targets babies, children, teens, middle-aged people and seniors as well ? you can basically look in the relevant category."

The site offers advice on everything from exercise to how something as simple as a change in diet can work wonders in preventing illness, she added.

"For example, if you are worried that you may get cancer in the future, you can find out what you can do through diet to help prevent it. (Health professionals suggest) you eat five to nine servings of fruit and vegetables every day, drink lots of water, have minimal sun exposure, that you don't smoke, that you're careful with alcohol and eat plenty of whole grains."

. Burns explained that the comprehensive online resource also includes a host of interactive features, such as a lifestyle check assessment which enables individuals to identify their risks and key prevention strategies and a fat intake calculator which allows the user to assess the fat content of their diet.

Added Mr. Simons: "The purpose of this facility, the Argus Online Wellness Centre, is to make available to everybody ? whether they're insured with Argus or not ? the tools to improve their health.

"We know that many diseases that people in Bermuda suffer from are preventable. Over half the cost of health care is as a result of conditions, diseases that are related to individuals' lifestyles.

"In order for the public at large to improve their health they need two things ? information and motivation.

"Our whole wellness programme that's available through (our) insurance deals with this at great length but since it's so easy to make information available over the Internet, we felt that since we had this facility available that we should offer this particular programme, the Online Wellness Centre, to everybody in Bermuda or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

"We felt we should offer it to anyone who has access to a computer and in Bermuda that's a large percentage of the population."