Impact Of Childhood Obesity On Employers

Abstract

The impact of childhood obesity on the workplace is not well understood. A study conducted for one large employer indicated that average per capita health insurance claims costs were as high as $2,907 in 2008 for an obese child and $10,789 for a child with type II diabetes. The average claims cost for children with type II diabetes actually exceeded the level of the average claims cost for adults with type II diabetes ($8,844). This paper reviews the evidence on the impact of childhood obesity on employers and discusses opportunities for business engagement-including two current examples of activities involving employers. E mployers are constantly challenged by competitive pressures to attract and retain employees and to control cost components that exhibit high rates of growth. The challenge often requires meeting increasing work-life needs of employees with dependent children. For example, between 1975 and 2008 the proportion of employed women with children under age eighteen grew from 47 percent to 71 percent.

An Observational Study of an Employer Intervention for Children's Healthy Weight Behaviors

“…This was 3 times the average cost of obese children without type 2 diabetes, and 6.5 times the average cost of nonobese, nondiabetic children. 23 How prevalent are employer wellness programs for healthy weight in children and families? It seems that employer wellness initiatives that target families as the unit for intervention are limited overall and for childhood overweight specifically.…”

Exploring Parental Perceptions of Self-Efficacy, Role Modeling and Factors Contributing to Family Health Practices from an Employer-Provided Family Weight Management Program: A Mixed Methods Study

“…In the United States, organizations pay over onefourth of health care costs and obesity related illnesses are estimated to be $190 billion annually, or almost 21% of total medical costs (Begley, 2012). Poor health of employees and their dependents can increase an organization's direct and indirect costs (Edington & Burton, 2003;Hammond & Levine, 2010;Sepulveda, Tait, Zimmerman & Edington, 2010). Direct costs stem from medical claims, workers' compensation and disability benefits (Edington & Burton, 2003;Hammond & Levine, 2010;Pelletier et al, 2004).…”

“…Indirect costs include employee absenteeism and presenteeism (Edington & Burton, 2003;Hammond & Levine, 2010;Pelletier et al, 2004). Presenteeism encompasses diminished on-the-job performance due to impairment by health risk factors, health problems, or work/life issues (Burton, Pranski, Conti, Chen, & Edington, 2004;Edington & Burton, 2003;Goetzel et al, 2004;Johns, 2009;Kessler, Greenburg, Michaelson, Meneades, & Wang, 2001;Pelletier et al, 2004;Sepulveda, Tait et al, 2010). Presenteeism, when compared to other cost drivers, may be a significant liability for any organization (Burton et al, 2004;Edington & Burton, 2003;Goetzel et al, 2004;Kessler et al, 2001;Pelletier et al, 2004).…”

“…park and recreation, and health) departments, employers are not typically identified as potential partners in offering family wellness programs even though evidence has shown organizational health and wellness interventions involving families can be effective in promoting healthy behaviors (Sepulveda, Lu, Sill, Young, & Edington, 2010;Sepulveda, Tait et al, 2010;Sorenson et al, 1999). A national worksite health promotion survey found only 6.9% of employers offered comprehensive worksite wellness programming and it often targeted only the employee in their health promotion efforts (Linnan et al, 2008).…”

“…Choosing appropriate interventions is a critical step in developing and delivering a results-oriented wellness program (Goetzel et al, 2007;Sepulveda, Lu et al, 2010;Sepulveda, Tait et al, 2010). The activities implemented in the wellness program should reflect the overall wellness goals, the interests of the employees and their dependents, and the major health risks that are prevalent within the specific population (Goetzel et al, 2007;Golley et al, 2010).…”