Workplaces take action against obesity

Obesity in the workplace

Obesity; a matter of strong debate in America. Obesity rates in the country are among the highest in the world, with 64 percent of adults being overweight or obese, and 26 percent being classed as obese. If these obesity figures continue to rise, by 2018, 103 million American adults will be classed as obese. So what's the answer to save America?

According to a report released last year by the World Health Organization, Global Health Risks: Mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks, the leading global risks for mortality in the world are high blood pressure (responsible for 13 percent of deaths globally), tobacco use (nine percent), high blood glucose (six percent), physical inactivity (six percent), and being overweight and obesity (five percent). These are all responsible for raising the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancers. They affect countries across all income groups: high, middle and low. The leading global risks for burden of disease, as measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), are being underweight (six percent of global DALYs) and unsafe sex (five percent), followed by alcohol use (five percent) and unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene (four percent).

So we know that being overweight or obese is a leading cause of mortality in the world, and a risk for future generations, but what effect is it having now? The obvious answer is the effect it has on the health of adults and children, but what about the effect on your everyday life and the effect on your job?

Well, it appears that American companies are starting to consider the implications of obesity for their business, and are taking steps with their employees by offering them what can only be considered an incentive to lose weight.

At least a third of US companies now offer financial initiatives, or are planning to introduce them, to get their employees to lose weight or become healthier in other ways.

"There's been an explosion of interest in this," said Dr. Kevin Volpp, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Health Incentives, in the article 'Dieting for dollars? More US employees trying it'.

OhioHealth takes on obesity

OhioHealth, a hospital chain whose workforce were mostly overweight, last year embarked on a program that paid employees to wear pedometers and get paid for walking. The more they walk, the more they win - up to $500 a year.

Half of the 9000 employees at the chain's five main hospitals signed up, more than $377,000 in rewards have already been paid out, and many workers tell of weight loss and a sudden need for slimmer clothes.

OhioHealth set the maximum reward for its step-counting program at $500. "It just sounded right to us. We thought that would be a big enough number to help people think twice," said Lisa Meddock, OhioHealth's benefits manager.

Will incentives work?

Only about 15 to 20 US studies have tried to evaluate the effect of financial incentives on weight loss. Most of those studies were small and failed to look at whether such measures worked beyond a few months. None of them could make conclusions about how much money it takes to make a lasting difference for most people.

Perhaps the largest effort to date was an observational study by Cornell University. It looked at seven employer programs and the results were depressing: The average weight loss in most was little more than a pound.

Some companies reward employees just for having a health evaluation or simply enrolling in a class - whether they complete it or not. Others require measurable weight loss or exercise achievement, sometimes structuring it in a contest along the lines of "The Biggest Loser" TV show.

While some companies offer money, others offer vacation trips. Some refund the cost of Weight Watchers classes. Others reduce health insurance premiums. The value of rewards can range from a few dollars to thousands of dollars.

So will workplace incentives work to help cut the obesity rate? Well surely it's going to depend on the individual and whether they really want to help themselves or not.

Jodie Humphries

Jodie Humphries graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA Hons in Creative Writing in 2008. She has worked for GDS Publishing for the digital group since July 2009. She has previous experience with writing for the web, running her own website since April 2007.

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