Exploring Obesity’s Impact on the Workplace

Obesity has become a global health epidemic, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Beyond its impact on personal well-being, obesity poses significant challenges for employers and workplaces. Whether it’s decreased productivity or increased health care costs, the repercussions of obesity in the workplace are far-reaching.

Obesity and the American Workplace

Obesity is a common, serious and costly chronic disease that affects nearly half of U.S. adults.

According to the American Obesity Association, 50% of Americans will live with obesity by 2025, with this proportion jumping to 60% by 2030.

Furthermore, obesity-related conditions—such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer—are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death. Obesity is also associated with poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life.

As obesity impacts millions of Americans, it naturally also takes a toll on the workplace. Fortunately, with the proper knowledge, employers can use their influence to help employees live healthier lives. Nevertheless, obesity in the workplace can result in substantial costs and employee productivity losses due to the following:

• Health care costs—With indirect costs included, health care spending related to obesity is roughly $450 billion annually. Obesity is linked to various chronic and costly diseases, such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, employees who are overweight cost their employers $73.1 billion a year and file twice the number of workers’ compensation claims.
• Absenteeism—Overweight employees generally take more sick days each year than other employees, adding to employers’ growing costs. When compared to other employees of average weight, obese individuals missed, on average, three more days per year due to injury or illness.
• Presenteeism—Presenteeism refers to the practice of an employee coming to work when they have a justifiable reason to be absent, such as a physical or mental illness. These health issues could be short-lived concerns (e.g., seasonal allergies or headaches) or chronic conditions (e.g., obesity). According to a Northeast Business Group on Health report, lost productivity costs caused by presenteeism equate to more than double the medical expenses employers incur from employees with obesity when compared to employees of average weight.

Since Americans spend a significant amount of time working, the workplace is a logical environment to leverage in combatting the obesity epidemic. As such, understanding obesity, its causes and its consequences is essential for employers. Although obesity is widespread, it may be helpful for employers to review and assess how much this disease is costing their respective organizations, particularly in terms of employee productivity and absenteeism.