Health Insurance Daily

Research Documents Weight Problems

Two new studies lend weight to the already hefty argument that medical problems associated with obesity take a bite out of businesses' bottom lines.

Medical costs for obese employees outweigh those of healthy weight employees by 77%, according to a new white paper by Michigan-based health coaching company Leade Health. Medical costs associated with obesity cost U.S. businesses about $8,720 per patient per year.

Obese workers also experience more work limitations due to their condition. Nearly 7% of obese employees reported difficulties doing their work, as opposed to just 3% of workers with a healthy weight.

A recent obesity study by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ranked obesity as No. 1 on a list of 10 major health risks.

The analysis of five years' worth of medical data from 61 health plans attributed 2% to 3% of all health claims dollars to medical issues associated with obesity. For men, obesity generated 14% of lifestyle-related health costs; for women the percentage rose to a full quarter, the ACOEM study found.

Both studies suggest weight management programs offer the best course of action for employers.

Article provided by BenefitNews 4-18-06.

posted by Mike @ 8:15 AM