Report: Obesity Affects Employers' Bottom Lines

10/11/2010

Employers may find it increasingly in their interests to offer wellness programs to their workers - particularly in light of recent data showing much obesity can affect their bottom line.

A report from ABC News this week cited research from Duke University which found that employers shoulder about $73.1 billion each year in added costs from obese workers, particularly in the form of absenteeism and higher medical costs.

The news network added that researchers had also found that employers lose about $12.1 billion each year to "presenteeism," which occurs when a sick worker shows up and tries to perform their duties anyway.

Separate research has found that obese individuals also face significantly higher out-of-pocket costs in any given year, ranging from spending more on clothing and airline tickets to healthcare-related expenses.

People who manage to maintain a healthy weight can save money in other ways as well - most notably on their health and life insurance premiums. This is because obesity is seen as a red flag for insurers concerned about the future costs of treating people for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic medical conditions.

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