Being obese is bad for your health as well as your company's. As large number of US citizens continue to battle obesity everyday, it's costing American companies an estimated $ 45 billion a year in medical expenditure and work loss, according to a new report.
The report released by the Conference Board found obesity is associated with a 36 per cent increase in healthcare spending, more than smoking or problem drinking.
With 34 per cent of adult Americans fitting the definition of "obese", employers need to pay attention to their workers' weights, for the good of the bottom line and the society, says the report released on Wednesday.
"Employers need to realise that obesity is not solely a health and wellness issue," says Labour Economist Linda Barrington, research director of The Conference Board Management Excellence Program and co-author of the report.
The report also found that more than 40 per cent of US companies have implemented obesity-reduction programs and another 24 per cent plan to do so this year.
It says that employers need to weigh the risks of being too intrusive in managing obese employees against the risks of not managing them.
"There is evidence that as weight goes up, wages go down. Employers should be fully aware of any potential discrimination risk before addressing employees' weight, whether for the employee's own good or that of the company," it says.
The report also suggests that companies should involve employees in planning health initiatives and make sure personal privacy is protected.
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