OBJECTIVE: To quantify the impact of weight gain or weight loss on health care costs. METHODS: Employees completing at least two health risk assessments during 2002 to 2008 were classified as adding, losing, or staying at high/low risk for each of the nine health risks including overweight and obesity. Models for each risk were used to compare cost trends by controlling for employee characteristics. RESULTS: Employees who developed high risk for obesity (n = 405) experienced 9.9% points higher annual cost increases (95% confidence interval: 3.0%-16.8%) than those who remained at lower risk (n = 8015). Employees who moved from high to lower risk for obesity (n = 384), experienced annual cost increases that were 2.3% points lower (95% confidence interval: -7.4% to 2.8%) than those who remained high risk (n = 1699). CONCLUSIONS: Preventing weight gain through effective employee health promotion programs is likely to result in cost savings for employers.
OBJECTIVE: To quantify the impact of weight gain or weight loss on health care costs. METHODS: Employees completing at least two health risk assessments during 2002 to 2008 were classified as adding, losing, or staying at high/low risk for each of the nine health risks including overweight and obesity. Models for each risk were used to compare cost trends by controlling for employee characteristics. RESULTS: Employees who developed high risk for obesity (n = 405) experienced 9.9% points higher annual cost increases (95% confidence interval: 3.0%-16.8%) than those who remained at lower risk (n = 8015). Employees who moved from high to lower risk for obesity (n = 384), experienced annual cost increases that were 2.3% points lower (95% confidence interval: -7.4% to 2.8%) than those who remained high risk (n = 1699). CONCLUSIONS: Preventing weight gain through effective employee health promotion programs is likely to result in cost savings for employers.
Authors: Enid Chung Roemer; Karen B Kent; Amanda Mummert; Katherine McCleary; Jacquelyn B Palmer; Jason E Lang; Dyann M Matson Koffman; Ron Z Goetzel Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: Ron Z Goetzel; Maryam Tabrizi; Rachel Mosher Henke; Richele Benevent; Claire V S Brockbank; Kaylan Stinson; Margo Trotter; Lee S Newman Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2014-05 Impact factor: 2.162