New York Times Examines Weight Loss Programs Offered by Employers

The New York Times on Sunday looked at companies that "have become more aggressive in last two years in encouraging employees to slim down" and have begun to pay for nutrition and exercise programs and arrange for discounts from providers. According to the Times, several studies conducted in recent years concluded that obese employees are absent more often than non-obese employees and that employers spend more on health care coverage for obese employees than for other employees. In order to reduce employee disabilities and absenteeism, some employers -- including AstraZeneca, HealthPartners, Dole Foods, Duke University and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York -- are "bringing weight-loss options to offices and factory floors" such as cooking classes, informational Web sites, and group weight-loss programs like Weight Watchers, the Times reports. Some health experts say that there is evidence that employees may find such arrangements more effective than enrolling in similar programs on their own, although no studies have been conducted yet to verify the claim, according to the Times. Helen Darling, the president of the National Business Group on Health, which represents about 205 large employers on health care-related issues, said, "There's a booming problem when you look at the data on the cost and productivity consequences of obesity among the working population, and it's opening up opportunities for employees" (Tahmincioglu, New York Times, 5/23).