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WORKSITE WELLNESS

Escalating health care costs continue to remain an issue of great concern for many health care professionals, employers and insurance companies. Statistics establish that 80% of illnesses and disease in Canada and the United States are preventable. This accounts for eight of the nine leading causes of death, of which there are more than 980,000 per year. Unfortunately, cardiovascular (heart) disease is still the biggest killer and makes up for more than 50% of this number. Yet heart disease is still one of the most preventable diseases in this country. (www.preventdisease.com)

Obesity is associated with numerous health risks that include diabetes, heart disease, and cancer to name a few. The perception of risk is often assumed to begin and end with the individual. Unfortunately, obesity affects everyone and the effects on corporate America’s bottom line have recently been documented.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center recently reported the results of a study of over 12,000 employees of the University. The researchers evaluated worker’s compensation claims, medical costs, and lost work time due to injury or illness comparing body mass index of obese (BMI > 40) and non-obese (BMI <24.9)

workers. The results are astounding. The researchers reported that obese workers filed double the number of worker’s compensation claims, or 12 claims per 100 workers. Medical costs for obese employees exceeded $51K per 100 workers, a 7-fold increase over non-obese workers. Obese workers lost nearly 184 days due to illness/injury per 100 employees compared to just 14 per 100 non-obese workers, a 13 fold increase.

This study emphasizes the need for employers to target eating behaviors and physical activity for employees in an effort to reduce the costs of business. If the trend toward greater numbers of obese Americans continues, the economic consequences could be drastic. (www.exerciseetc.com)

For many companies, medical costs can consume half of corporate profits--or more. Some employers look to cost sharing, cost shifting, managed care plans, risk rating, and cash-based rebates or incentives. But these methods merely shift costs. Only worksite health promotion stands out as the long-term answer for keeping employees well in the first place. It is time to think about an investment in your most important asset, your employees, and the impact this investment can have on your bottom line.
 

Research substantiates that Worksite Wellness Programs result in:

• Lower Health Care Costs

• Reduced Absenteeism

• Higher Productivity

• Reduced Use Of Health Care Benefits

• Reduced Worker’s Comp/Disability

• Reduced Injuries

• Increased Morale and Loyalty

See "Customize Your Program" for information on how to start a Worksite Wellness Program in your organization.

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