Wellness Programs Can Help Solve Obesity Epidemic

With the release of the obesity study published in the journal Health Affairs, it's clearly time for corporate America to take responsibility and make wellness programs mandatory!

Before I share with you the benefits of wellness programs, let's take a look at the shocking findings from the study as reported by the New York Times:

• Obese Americans spend about 42 percent more on health care than other Americans
• Medical spending on obesity-related conditions is estimated to have reached147 billion a year in 2008. That figure represents almost 10 percent of all medical spending.
• Obese Americans spend about $1,429 more on health care each year than the roughly $3,400 spent by other Americans

Benefits of wellness programs

Wellness programs not only help improve the health of employees by motivating them to take care of themselves, but they also reduce these alarming health care costs associated with obesity as well as improve your bottom line.

CLICK HERE for more data on cost-savings of wellness programs.

How do you create a wellness program?

It's really simple. You establish "wellness goals," e.g. target weights, quitting smoking, reducing blood pressure or lowering cholesterol.

You can also include preventative check-ups as one of the goals. It's not just obesity that wellness programs can help prevent. There are a wide array of diseases that can be prevented with early detection.

Once your employees reach their goal, they receive points. And with these points, they can select from a variety of products and services to celebrate achieving their goals.

What results can you expect from your wellness program?

Reduced absenteeism, increased employee loyalty and a major decrease in health insurance costs are just some of the many benefits.

Bottom line: The time is now to begin a wellness program. It will improve the health of your employees -- and your company's bottom line!

Visit Taraci.com for more information on wellness programs.

Mark Pasetsky is the editorial director for Taraci.com, a web site focused on reporting news about the incentive marketing industry, as well as editorial director for CoverAwards.com.

Follow Mark Pasetsky on Twitter: www.twitter.com/coverawards

Comments

[dadw5boys]

08:25 PM on 07/28/2009

Yes spend money on Wellness progam.

Do not ask them to take the excess sugar, fat and salt out of the food chain !

Do not demand drug free foods !

Do not demand pesticide free foods!

You can spend your way out of it just like you spent your way into it.

LOL

[noneIn2008]

07:13 PM on 07/28/2009

Reading about 1940's Germany I find a common statement, the common good supersedes the private good. The Hitler youth manual notes "Food is not a private matter!" You have a duty to be healthy

[Dave120]

04:21 PM on 07/28/2009

I'm not sure a Wellness program should be looked at as a solution, but as a positive step a company can take to make their workplace healthier.

This is giving employees an incentive beyond their personal health to go to the gym. While it might seem hokey, getting an iPod for spending 20 Hours a month working out or getting a new bike for completing a 12 step quit smoking program might really help. It always helps to have a tangible reward for doing something we might not want to.

This is like a pediatrician giving out toys after giving a kid a shot.

It's a bribe 100% but it's bribing people to do something good.

[ljohan1]

03:47 PM on 07/28/2009

This article really brings home the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I admire businesses that encourage their employees to work towards health goals and healthy workplace environments.

[Dave120]

03:45 PM on 07/28/2009

I think that it is a no-brainer for large to moderate companies to run a program like this. It has a low risk and a high reward, PLUS it's a positive PR message. I think there are plenty of companies who would like to attach themselves to the idea of healthy living and even more who'd like to save money on health care and insurance.

[Sir681]

03:45 PM on 07/28/2009

How about when developing communities, to make them more pedestrian-friendly? That way a person can walk from point A to B without having to walk in the street, risking life and limb. Have you ever noticed that there are sidewalks that just abrubtly end?

We build with all the conveniences for the car but hardly any thought for those of us who would like to walk. Walking trails may be useful for exercise, but sidewalks are even more important for getting around by walking.

Do you remember recess in schools? Well they're gone.

[sixyfivepercentwater]

03:41 PM on 07/28/2009

First, all three of the "shocking findings" from the NY Times are the same factoid said in different ways. I'm absolutely charmed by the idea of giving out little presents to employees for achieving goals which pertain to their personal lives and which have nothing or almost nothing to do with the performance of their jobs. I'm also certain that anyone who really wants to lose weight or stop smoking is already doing so or has done so.