“How Much Are Your Employees Costing You?”
The Solution to America’s Number One Problem
Study Says Overweight Adults Push Up Cost of Health Care and Lower Performance
Spending on health care for the growing number of adults who are seriously overweight accounts for almost one-third of the national cost of treating 15 important diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and hypertension, the Lewin Group, a health care research and consulting group, said.
Obese employees have much higher weight-related medical expenses and miss more work than their colleagues who maintain a healthy weight, one study shows.
It places the annual cost at an additional $460 to $2,500 per obese person - those who are 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight.
- The price of obesity at a company with 1,000 people on staff is about $285,000 a year in medical costs and absenteeism. Roughly 30% of that cost comes from increased absences among heavyset employees, according to the study in the September/October issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.
- Normal-weight men miss an average of three work days a year, compared with five days for men who are 60 or more pounds over a healthy weight.
- Normal-weight women miss about 3.4 days a year vs. 5.2 days for women who are obese, that is 30 to 60 pounds overweight, and 8.2 days for extremely obese, 100 or more pounds over a healthy weight.
- The average medical expenditure for a normal-weight man is $1,351 a year. Men who are 30 to 60 pounds overweight cost $462 more based on added medical costs and absenteeism. Extremely obese men cost $2,027 a year more.
- Average medical expenditures for normal-weight women are $1,956. Women who are 30 to 60 pounds overweight cost $1,372 more when medical costs and missed work are included. Women who weigh 60 to 100 pounds too much cost $2,485 more.
The study was commissioned by the American Obesity Association, which urges the Government and private employers to give more attention to problems of people who are overweight.
Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are the main medical risks for the obese, which describes one in five Americans. They are also vulnerable to getting arthritis, several types of cancer, kidney, gallbladder and liver disease, the Lewin study said. ''The country has been in denial about the whole obesity issue,'' said Morgan Downey, executive director of the American Obesity Association. ''In a full employment economy, the work force is getting heavier and heavier,'' he said, and ''blood pressure, diabetes and stroke are quickly becoming problems for younger and younger people.''
The growing costs of treating these conditions ''are going to frustrate almost all the efforts to control health care costs,'' Mr. Downey said.
What is the prevalence of overweight and obesity among U.S. adults?
Results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 1999–2002 indicate that the following percentages of U.S. adults are overweight or obese:
- An estimated 30 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older - over 60 million people - are obese, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
- An estimated 65 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older are either overweight or obese, defined as having a BMI of 25 or higher.
When people are or overweight or obese, they are more likely to develop health problems such as the following:
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
What are the costs associated with overweight and obesity? According to The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, the cost of obesity in the United States in 2000 was more than $117 billion ($61 billion direct and $56 billion indirect).
This is the highest estimate yet of the medical costs of overweight and obesity. It's comparable to the annual medical bill for smoking, which was estimated at about $76 billion a few years ago.
The new study by three economists, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, includes direct medical costs but not indirect costs such as time off work.
Lost productivity costs related to obesity (BMI > 30) among Americans ages 17-64 is $3.9 billion. This value considers the following annual numbers (for 1994):
- Workdays lost related to obesity: 39.3 million
- Physician office visits related to obesity: 62.7 millio
- Restricted activity days related to obesity: 239.0 million
- Bed-days related to obesity: 89.5 million~
One in four companies said double-digit healthcare cost increases may force them to lower wage increases for employees, and one in five expects to slow hiring of new permanent employees in the year ahead.
Seven out of 10 small business decision-makers in the U.S. are concerned about their company's ability to provide affordable health insurance coverage, with two-thirds worried about the effect this has on their ability to attract and retain top quality staff.
Obesity Discrimination - Obese people are discriminated against when applying for jobs, get passed over for promotion and are more likely to be made redundant.
A survey of more than 2,000 HR professionals by Personnel Today magazine revealed that nine out of 10 respondents would choose a 'normal weight' applicant over an obese applicant with the same experience and qualifications.
One in three HR professionals also believe obesity is a valid medical reason for not employing a person, while almost one in seven agree that they would be less likely to promote an obese employee.
Overweight and Obesity in America Carries High Costs in Lost Work Time - Reduced Productivity, Not Absenteeism, Explains Two-Thirds of Excess Costs
Obesity in American workers costs more than $42 billion per year in health-related lost productive time, reports a study in the December Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). Corporate health programs more than pay for themselves. Obesity help for workers is a win/win solution. Two-thirds of obesity's impact on productivity results from reduced productivity while at work, rather than missed work days, concludes the report by Judith A. Ricci, ScD, MS, and Elsbeth Chee, ScD, of Caremark, Hunt Valley, Md.
The researchers analyzed data from a nationwide study of the relationship between health and productivity at work. Of the nearly 7,000 workers in the study, 22 percent were classified as obese and 36 percent as overweight but not obese. Obese/overweight workers were compared with normal-weight workers in terms of health-related lost productive time – not just absenteeism but also "presenteeism," or days the employee was at work but performing at less than full capacity because of health reasons.
Forty-two percent of obese workers reported some health-related lost productive time over the past two weeks. This was a significantly higher percentage than for normal-weight workers (35 percent) or for those who were overweight but not obese (36 percent).
Extrapolated to the entire United States, the total annual cost of health-related lost productive time in obese workers was estimated at more than $42 billion, or about $1,600 per obese worker per year. Two-thirds of this cost was explained by presenteeism – the remaining one-third resulted from health-related absences.
Now considered an epidemic in the United States, obesity has a significant impact on the American workforce. Previous studies have documented the high health costs and absenteeism rates of obese workers. By including losses due to presenteeism, the new study is the first to estimate the overall productivity impact of obesity.
"Targeting obese workers for health promotion and disease management programs may improve not only workers' health status and quality of life, but also work productivity," Drs. Ricci and Chee conclude. They also suggest that programs for overweight workers might help to reduce the risk of further weight gain, thus preventing future health problems and productivity losses.
"Employers who invest in worksite health promotion plans can see a return of $3 to $6 for each dollar invested in the programs"
- December issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine
We have the solution to lost productivity and high health cost!
The High Energy Weight Loss and Healthy Living Program
Why have so many people have tried countless diets, only to give up and have the weight come back? Because a diet is only a temporary fix that doesn't address the driving behavior. This is not another diet. This is about creating change and taking control of your life. You will learn how emotions drive your behavior, and how to change your limiting beliefs. You will learn how to handle stress and make it work for you.
You will understand why diets rarely work, and learn what does work. You will learn incredible techniques like Guided Imagery, Neuro Linguistic Programming and Emotional Energy Release to make permanent changes to the way you feel about food, emotions and happiness to make changes in every area of your life.
And, you will understand the mind/body connection to weight loss and good health. This is more than just a weight loss program. This program is designed to help you be trim, healthy and happy.
Benefits include:
You may be thinking, "We already have gym memberships or other programs". Are they as successful as you would like them to be?This is the missing piece that will work with any existing program to motivate your employees to create healthy changes.This program targets the psychological triggers that motivate your employees to change.
What is different about this program? Millions of people start health related programs every day. Most of these programs fail because they are focused on the symptom, and not the cause. Every overweight or unhealthy person knows that exercise and vegetables are good for you and donuts are bad. More knowledge is not the answer! Neither is will power. The solution is to become the kind of person who has this behavior naturally.
The key to successful change is behavior modification. Using Creative Imagery, Neuro Linguistic Programming, Self-hypnosis and other powerful techniques, you will be able to create new, powerful associations to healthy living habits.
Here are just some of the vital health secrets you will learn......
My husband said that Bill's Healthy Living program was the best money I have ever spent on myself. I agree. I no longer have any urge to eat unhealthy foods or overeat, and my energy is sky high. I still can't believe how easy this is and I've already lost 25 pounds!
I'm recommending this to everyone. – Gloria McMahan, Lincoln NE.
Invest one incredible day and learn to take control of your life! Listen to part of a Live Seminar
These mp3 files can be played on your computer using your audio player or you can use QuickTime player. Click below to download for free.QuickTime is software that allows Mac and Windows users to play back audio and video on their computers.
Listen to the first 30 minutes of this incredible live seminar. Each part is 10 minutes long.
Here is part 1CLICK HERE
Here is part 2CLICK HERE
Here is part 3CLICK HERE
Seminar Length: 1/2 Day
Investment: $995
*Discount: $895 when 2 or more seminars are scheduled All materials are included for up to 20 people.
To schedule a seminar call 402-334-3333. For more information email info@healthylifeseminars.com or call Bill at 402-334-3333.
Ask about Saturday Seminars - the perfect win/win solution If your organization has limited time or availability, schedule a Saturday Seminar. Many organizations will share the cost or just provide the location for employees to pay for their own. This is also the perfect solution for clubs and other groups.
Are you ready for Risk Free Training? Satisfaction 100% Guaranteed. At Healthy Life Seminars, you don't pay anything until after the seminar and you are completely satisfied. If you are not totally satisfied, you pay nothing. We bring the training to you when and where you need it.
This program is conducted by Bill Cashell, author of The Emotional Diet - How to Love Your Life More and Food Less.
You will understand why diets rarely work, and learn what does work. You will learn incredible techniques like Guided Imagery, Neuro Linguistic Programming and Emotional Energy Release to make permanent changes to the way you feel about food, emotions and happiness to make changes in every area of your life.
And, you will understand the mind/body connection to weight loss and good health. This is more than just a weight loss program. This program is designed to help you be trim, healthy and happy.
Benefits include:
- Increased energy
- Higher productivity
- Reduced absenteeism
- Improved memory and thinking ability
- Higher self esteem
- Better quality of health and happiness
You may be thinking, "We already have gym memberships or other programs". Are they as successful as you would like them to be?This is the missing piece that will work with any existing program to motivate your employees to create healthy changes.This program targets the psychological triggers that motivate your employees to change.
What is different about this program? Millions of people start health related programs every day. Most of these programs fail because they are focused on the symptom, and not the cause. Every overweight or unhealthy person knows that exercise and vegetables are good for you and donuts are bad. More knowledge is not the answer! Neither is will power. The solution is to become the kind of person who has this behavior naturally.
The key to successful change is behavior modification. Using Creative Imagery, Neuro Linguistic Programming, Self-hypnosis and other powerful techniques, you will be able to create new, powerful associations to healthy living habits.
Here are just some of the vital health secrets you will learn......
- Why diets don't works and how to create the necessary mindset for success
- How to increase your energy level the first day
- How your self talk can keep you trapped in old habits and how to change it
- How to break out of self sabotage
- How to create feelings that literally draw you toward a healthy life style
- How to use the keys to successful change in any behavior
- How to replace limiting beliefs with empowering beliefs
- How the food you eat affects your body at a cellular level
- How different food affects your brain and your ability to think effectively
- How to use the simple Food Rectangle to eat healthy
- How to reframe desires for unhealthy foods and create a desire for healthy foods
- How to understand the Glycemic Index and avoid diabetes
- How to use NLP and EFT to break emotional ties to eating
- How to reframe past events and program yourself for future success
- How to create positive emotions and release "fat-storing" stress
- How to put exercise in everyday life
- How to create more joy in your life and replace the need for emotional eating
My husband said that Bill's Healthy Living program was the best money I have ever spent on myself. I agree. I no longer have any urge to eat unhealthy foods or overeat, and my energy is sky high. I still can't believe how easy this is and I've already lost 25 pounds!
I'm recommending this to everyone. – Gloria McMahan, Lincoln NE.
Invest one incredible day and learn to take control of your life! Listen to part of a Live Seminar
These mp3 files can be played on your computer using your audio player or you can use QuickTime player. Click below to download for free.QuickTime is software that allows Mac and Windows users to play back audio and video on their computers.
Listen to the first 30 minutes of this incredible live seminar. Each part is 10 minutes long.
Here is part 1CLICK HERE
Here is part 2CLICK HERE
Here is part 3CLICK HERE
Seminar Length: 1/2 Day
Investment: $995
*Discount: $895 when 2 or more seminars are scheduled All materials are included for up to 20 people.
To schedule a seminar call 402-334-3333. For more information email info@healthylifeseminars.com or call Bill at 402-334-3333.
Ask about Saturday Seminars - the perfect win/win solution If your organization has limited time or availability, schedule a Saturday Seminar. Many organizations will share the cost or just provide the location for employees to pay for their own. This is also the perfect solution for clubs and other groups.
Are you ready for Risk Free Training? Satisfaction 100% Guaranteed. At Healthy Life Seminars, you don't pay anything until after the seminar and you are completely satisfied. If you are not totally satisfied, you pay nothing. We bring the training to you when and where you need it.
This program is conducted by Bill Cashell, author of The Emotional Diet - How to Love Your Life More and Food Less.
