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How to reduce obesity in the workplace

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America has an outstanding growth rate in the number of individuals that struggle with obesity. This physical condition plays havoc in the workplace by affecting costs and impairing morale and productivity.

Obesity is generally defined as an individual that is 30 to 40 pounds overweight. Severely obese is considered to be 60 pounds overweight. Morbidly obese is 100 pounds overweight and super obese is 200 pounds overweight. Physicians consider a person to be obese if they weigh more than 20% above expected weight for age, height, and body build.

Statistics relating to obesity in the United States and obesity within the workplace are simply astounding. The number of Americans considered obese by the CDC in 2001 was 44 million - or approximately one in five. This is a 74 percent increase since 1991. The Surgeon General reports that more than 9 percent of the nation's health care expenditures are directly related to obesity and physical inactivity. They calculate that to cost out at about $117 billion annually and relate to 300,000 deaths per year. Health risks associated with obesity include: hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, endocrine problems, gall bladder disease, lung and breathing problems, arthritis, and premature death. Obesity is associated with 39 million lost work days; 239 million restricted-activity days; 90 million bed days; 63 million physician visits. The average absence for a worker who files an obesity-related Short-Term Disability claim is 45 days, according to MetLife.

Obese individuals have higher health care utilization rates: 36 percent higher in-patient and outpatient spending, 77 percent higher medication spending, 45 percent more in-patient days, 48 percent more expenditures over $5000, 11 percent higher annual health care costs (Health Risks and Behavior: The Impact on Medical Costs, Control Data Corp, 1987). Based on research by MetLife, the CDC, and the American College of Cardiology, three main conditions related to obesity are diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease - and they cost employers more than $220 billion annually in medical care and lost productivity.

Businesses can play a pivotal role in helping employee's battle obesity.Here are some suggestions to help reduce obesity in the workplace:

  • Provide employee health contests.Many companies sponsor walk or ride to work days. This encourages individuals to get a little more exercise than they normally do by encouraging them not to drive. Have employees compete in teams to lose weight. Those employees that feel they want to lose weight can all work together to accomplish their goal by using positive peer pressure in helping encourage them to achieve their goals.

  • Provide partnerships with local health programs or gymnasiums. Many individuals say that the limiting factor for exercising is the cost of memberships to gyms or health classes. Businesses that can partner with such companies can provide memberships at discounts or even provide a free class for employees from time to time.

  • Provide on-site exercise classes or programs. Some businesses have gone as far as providing their own company gymnasiums that employees and their family members can use during lunch, before and after work. Try offering exercise classes during the lunch hour or even during regular business hours.

  • Eliminate unhealthy snack foods from vending machines and catered meetings. You don't have to cut out the entire array of snack foods people enjoy, but work with the vending companies to provide a more balanced selection. Make sure there are drinks that have less sugar and caffeine. Or snacks that are healthier than potato chips and chocolate. Fruits and vegetables are a great alternative and they can help overweight employees drop some weight.

Employees that are healthier are happier. The only concern is making sure that you are sensitive to the manner in which you approach your employees with such programs. Remember, that individuals have choice and privacy as long as it doesn't interfere with the health and safety of other employees.

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