Employers need to take on obesity
TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: You’ve heard it many times — Americans are fatter than ever. At least 15 percent of the population of every state is clinically obese. It’s a concern for doctors, and it seems for employers too. Today, the Conference Board releases findings on how obesity actually affects the bottom line. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Ashley Milne-Tyte: The Conference Board says obesity costs the private sector around $45 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity. But Linda Barrington, a labor economist with the group, says most businesses don’t see obesity as a liability.
Linda Barrington: What we haven’t seen is companies confronting weight as a major contributing factor to negative health effects.
To trim the fat off a chubby staff, Barrington says, employers have to use a carrot, not a stick, or they could be in legal trouble. She says some companies use financial incentives to keep workers on a weight-loss track. Others have had success with simpler tactics.
Barrington: A lot of companies have cafeterias, so why not just put a surcharge on the unhealthy foods?
And leave the fruits and yogurt subsidized. And after lunch, she says, you could have that sales meeting while taking a walk around the block.
I’m Ashley Milne-Tyte for Marketplace.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
