Posted in: JanuaryThe True Cost of Obesity in 2010 and What You Can Do About It
Did you know that obesity and subsequent weight-related chronic diseases cost American employers billions of dollars annually? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that nearly two-thirds of American adults are overweight, with a third of these individuals being clinically obese. Obese Americans are at an increased risk for heart attacks, diabetes, cancer, strokes, and arthritis, with excessive body weight triggering at least 100,000 deaths annually. Furthermore, overweight and obese employees miss more workdays, have higher medical costs, file more workers' compensation claims, and tend to be less mobile than their fit coworkers. Overall, it is estimated that obesity costs companies approximately $45 billion annually.
So, what can an employer do about obesity? Too often, employers want to help their population lose or maintain a healthy weight but fail to implement a program that is truly sustainable. One of the most effective steps an organization can take is to capitalize on New Year's resolutions by launching a weight management program at the beginning of the year. Providing the needed resources, tools, and strategies to both employees and their family members can make all the difference when it comes to keeping those resolutions year-long.
A couple of key actions for your organization will help your employees successfully change their behavior:
- Identify the percentage of your population that has weight risks and whether or not those individuals are ready to change. This baseline information will help you custom design a program to meet your population's needs.
- Account for your organization's culture and ensure that its policies, benefits, and senior management support wellness as a critical success factor within the organization.
Sometimes educating your senior management about the business economics of prevention is just as important as implementing the wellness program. Without top-level buy-in, wellness will never truly become part of the culture, and the results will consequently lag. It's important that top management understand that obesity-related injuries, illnesses, and chronic diseases spill into the workplace and accrue concrete economic costs.
A recent study conducted at Duke University Medical Center revealed the following shocking statistics:
- Obese workers averaged twice as many compensation claims as healthy employees.
- Obese employees have seven times higher medical costs than their fit counterparts.
- Obese employees miss 12 times more workdays than in-shape employees.
Given the strong link between obese employees and both higher health care costs and lost productivity, maintaining a healthy weight is not only critical to employees' well-being, but the company's well-being as well.
Ready to make a change in your organization? Total Well-Being has helped wellness leaders at organizations nationwide make the case for wellness to senior management. To talk to our strategic consultants about implementing a metrics-based program that yields results within 24 months or less, call us today at 303.696.5420.
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