Study Finds Obesity Increases Costs for Employees, Employers

Newswise — In a new study documenting the costs associated with specific levels of obesity in the American workplace, researchers at RTI International and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that the average annual per capita increase in medical expenditures and absenteeism associated with obesity ranges between $450 and $2,500 per obese employee, with costs increasing as BMI increases.

The findings, which appear in the September/October issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, show that for men employed full time in the labor market, the combined annual per capita cost of being obese, including medical expenses and absenteeism, ranges from $460 to $2,030. For women the per capita cost ranges from $1,370 to $2,485.

The larger cost for obese women is driven, in part, by their increased frequency of absenteeism. Normal weight employees miss about three days of work per year due to illness or injury, whereas grade III obese women (those roughly 100 pounds overweight) miss more than eight days per year.

To put the issue into perspective, the authors estimate that the cost of obesity at a firm with 1,000 employees is about $285,000 per year. The authors believe the high costs of obesity could be getting the attention of employers.

"As the prevalence and cost of obesity in the workplace continue to increase, so does the financial motivation to search for strategies to reduce these costs," said Eric Finkelstein, Ph.D., the study's principal investigator at RTI International. "Such strategies may include worksite wellness and disease-management programs related to obesity."

The study sample was drawn from two nationally representative datasets: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The NHIS, used to estimate obesity-attributable work loss, is the principal source of information on the health of the civilian population of the United States. The MEPS, used to estimate obesity-attributable medical costs, collects data on health care expenditures and links this data with additional information collected from the respondents' medical providers, employers and insurance providers. The sample was restricted to full-time workers between the ages of 18 and 64. Previous research has demonstrated that the overall prevalence of obesity is increasing, and so is the proportion of the obese population with grades II and III obesity, those who this study shows to be most expensive. Taken together, these findings support the assertion that obesity is and will continue to be a large contributor to rising health care costs. "It is becoming increasingly difficult for employers to ignore these costs." Finkelstein said. "The results of this study, combined with information on the effectiveness of specific interventions, will allow employers to make more informed decisions about the best strategies for reducing obesity and related costs among their employees."

About RTI InternationalRTI International is an independent nonprofit research organization dedicated to conducting research and development that improves the human condition. With a staff of more than 2,500 people, RTI offers innovative research and technical solutions to governments and businesses worldwide in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, advanced technology, surveys and statistics, education and training, economic and social development, and the environment. For more information, please visit us at: http://www.rti.org.