Employee Health and Wellness Programs: Obesity

Many healthcare experts are pointing to the potential of employee health and wellness programs to stem the ever-rising tide of the obesity epidemic. The lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits are central reasons for the epidemic. Heredity is also something of a factor. According to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity is the leading health threat in the U.S. today.

Employee Health and Wellness Programs should target obesity because of the following:

• The top 3 causes of death are cancer, heart disease and stroke; obesity is the leading cause of all three of those conditions
• National Center for Health Statistics notes that nearly one-third of all Americans are obese and fully two-thirds are considered overweight
• Baylor College's Director of the Behavioral Medicine Research Center predicts nearly every American (85-95%) will be overweight if not obese by 2040.
• Forty percent (40%) of U.S. adults do not engage in any non-work related physical activity (Department of Health and Human Services)
• An American Cancer Society report indicates obesity and the lack of physical activity causes about one-third of cancer cases in the U.S.

According to the CDC, since the 1970's, the incidence of overweight and obesity has increased notably for both adults and children. The incidence of obesity increased from 15.0% (in the 1976–1980 survey) to 32.9% (in the 2003–2004 survey) for adults between the ages of 20 and 74. There's also a significant rise in weight among children and teens. For children 2–5 years of age, the incidence of overweight increased from 5.0% to 13.9%; for those aged 6–11 years, incidence increased from 6.5% to 18.8%; and for those aged 12–19 years, incidence increased from 5.0% to 17.4%.

These increasing rates are causing concern because of their implications for the health of Americans. Being overweight or obese raises the risk of many chronic diseases and health conditions, including the following:

• Hypertension
• Dyslipidemia (high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• Coronary heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

Although one of the U.S. health objectives for the year 2010 is to lower the incidence of obesity among adults to less than 15%, current data by the CDC indicates that the situation is getting worse rather than improving.  Employee Health and Wellness Programs Obesity initiates offer an excellent opportunity to address this situation.