Herbalife offers nutrition for 'healthy aging'

John Agwunobi, chief health and nutrition officer at Herbalife, speaks during a recent interview with The Korea Times at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Koreans urged to eat right, exercise and engage in mentally stimulating activities

By Lee Hyo-sik

People want to live a long, healthy life, but in many cases it is easier said than done, given long working hours, mounting stress, financial difficulties and other obstacles.

But living a healthy life may not be as difficult as it sounds if they seek help from Herbalife, a global nutrition provider, according to its chief promoter.

In an interview with The Korea Times, John Agwunobi, chief health and nutrition officer at Herbalife, said Koreans are aware of the importance of "healthy aging," but tend to be passive in taking steps toward healthy, active lifestyle.

The American health expert suggests they eat right, exercise, take part in mentally stimulating activities and engage in community programs.

"According to a recent survey we conducted in 12 Asian countries, including Korea, Koreans over 40 are found to be more aware of the importance of healthy aging than their Asian counterparts," Agwunobi said.

"But we also found only a few people here are engaged in behavior and habits that promote healthy aging. They take illness as part of aging and do nothing about it," he said. "But it doesn't have to be that way. There is a lot you can do throughout all your life cycles. Herbalife can help make your senior years as healthy as possible."

Prior to joining Herbalife in February 2016, Agwunobi was a senior vice president at Walmart, overseeing the retailer's healthcare operations from 2007 to 2014. From 2005 to 2007, he served as the assistant secretary of health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

He received a master's degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from Georgetown University. Agwunobi also completed his pediatric residency at Howard University and is a licensed physician in Florida, Maryland and Washington D.C.

Simple steps to improve health

Agwunobi said changing lifestyle does not necessarily involve cost or a tremendous effort, adding people can start by eating a healthy breakfast that offers balanced nutrition and doing a simple stretch routine for 10 minutes every day.

"Our research shows simple intervention is the key to achieving healthy aging. We suggest seniors eat right, become physically active and engage in mentally challenging activities," the physician said.

"It is also important for them to have a social support system. The nurturing and supportive society enables seniors to live much longer and healthier than those living alone. People need to be surrounded by others and actively engaged in community programs."

He said Herbalife provides nutrition and the community support system to its customers seeking to overhaul their lifestyle.

"If it is difficult to change the lifestyle on your own, it is recommended to do it with the people around you. We share information about health on offline places such as Herbalife's nutrition club and give you advice about lifestyle, exercise methods and diet. This is what we do," Agwunobi said.

"We are not just selling products that contain proteins, vitamins and fiber. We also promote healthy eating and physical activities among our customers," he said. "Our coaches interact with customers online and in offices, and try to keep them engaged. It is safe to say for those wanting to promote healthy eating, one way is to engage with Herbalife nutrition."

The company offers a wide range of nutrition products under four categories: Core Products & Healthy Weight, Energy & Fitness, Specialized Nutrition and Niteworks, and Herbalife24.

In particular, the Core Products & Healthy Weight line offers such products as Formula 1 Healthy Meal, Formula 2 Multivitamin Complex and Formula 3 Personalized Protein Powder, as well as instant energy beverages containing ingredients such as aloe gel and ginseng.

The strength of Herbalife's nutrition products is they are scientific, according to Agwunobi, who said the firm maximizes the effects of product intake by recommending customized items for each customer through the direct selling method.

"In Korea, Herbalife is conducting diverse marketing activities to let the customers directly and indirectly experience healthy, active lifestyles," he said. "We not only sell products, but also help customers take the products and change their lifestyles."

Herbalife's cookies and cream-flavored nutritional shake mix

Why Herbalife?

Agwunobi said he decided to be part of Herbalife to make a difference on a global scale.

"When I was a pediatrician, I realized that health problems in babies are closely related to social systems. So I decided to move into the public domain. After spending several years with the Department of Health and Human Services, I wanted to move back into the private sector," he said. "I was offered a job to manage Walmart's pharmacies and other healthcare-related businesses in the United States. To reach a global audience, I joined Herbalife."

Herbalife has given him opportunities to work with hundreds of thousands of distributors in 94 countries and contribute to making the world healthier and happier, the physician said.

"My primary job is to train and educate our distributors. It is very important because they are the ones who make meaningful differences in the health of millions of people," he said.

He stressed the importance of science in developing and introducing Herbalife products and services.

"My job is to make sure that our distributors talk to customers on the basis of science. Herbalife looks at only science, nothing else, when developing nutritional products. This is our core principle," Agwunobi said.

"When I come to Korea and meet with local staff, I feel a great deal of passion and enthusiasm from them. I have learned a lot from our Korean employees. The Korean unit is very dynamic and innovative, and is willing to embrace new technologies to deliver greater results."