Impacts of Worker Obesity Can Be Managed With Prevention, Treatment Programs

A new guidance statement from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine says wellness programs and insurance coverage that includes bariatric surgery can help manage employee obesity and mitigate its economic costs to employers, reports Safety + Health . The statement is from a multidisciplinary panel assembled by ACOEM that reviewed 275 articles on interventions dealing with obesity in the workplace. One study found absenteeism, one factor related to employee obesity, costs employers $8.65 billion a year. Other implications for employers include higher risk of injury to employees, more healthcare costs, and lower productivity. Modern workplace factors that can boost or hinder management of obesity include job and social stress, fatigue from overwork or shift work, fewer manual labor jobs, and more desk-related jobs. "Whereas the impact of obesity on life expectancy, diabetes, sleep apnea, and healthcare costs are frequently discussed, the hidden damage and consequences of obesity on the American workforce are less-known and incredibly detrimental," says Dr. Mitchell Roslin at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Obesity is a key determinant of health, yet increasing at alarming rates. The importance of adding greater awareness and better programs to combat obesity to the workplace cannot be overstated." A recent survey gauging participants' perceptions of medical services provided by their health insurance indicated that respondents reported low prevalence of coverage for obesity treatment. The ACOEM panel recommends employers use workplace wellness programs and behavioral counseling to help employees adopt healthy lifestyles, in addition to insurance coverage and access to bariatric surgery.