More than one-third of American adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Employers may be affected in a number of ways, chief among them the fact that about 10 percent of medical spending is the result of weight-related diseases. Obesity can contribute to heart conditions, diabetes and other health issues, making workers' weights a potential concern for employers. Each obese employee at an organization may effectively cost $17,000 each year in the form of additional absences, healthcare expenses and reduced productivity, BLR reports.
This is one reason a growing number of employers are adopting employee wellness programs and tying them to their benefit plans as they attempt to encourage workers to maintain a healthy weight. At the same time, HR compliance and legal concerns mean that it is wise to avoid weight discrimination and organizations must avoid making decisions or setting policies that are prejudicial, despite the fact that at least one estimate suggests as many as 40 percent of baby boomers may be obese.
In a recent webinar, Kristine Kwong indicated that obese employees are between 30 and 50 percent more likely to develop chronic health issues than heavy smokers and drinkers. At the same time, there has recently been an increase in the amount of support for legislation prohibiting weight discrimination.
Such laws might affect hiring practices, promotions, compensation and termination decisions, among other aspects of business. Kwong also noted that, while obesity may or may not constitute a disability under the ADA, it may contribute to conditions that do, such as diabetes.
How obesity impacts employers
While discrimination is a significant concern and compliance issues may become more relevant as a result of future laws, obesity is a major factor in healthcare costs. Employee benefit expenses are likely to be higher for obese employees, and that extends beyond health coverage. They are also likely to file more expensive workers' compensation claims, according to one study.
Some employers are concerned that obese employees may be unable to meet the demands of certain physical jobs, or could fail to project the image they want to customers and clients. Obese workers may also use more sick days, make more doctor visits and require more extensive absences to seek medical treatments. This can interfere with productivity and day-to-day operations.
