Addressing obesity in health benefits improves employee wellbeing, reduces costs, and boosts productivity
In an article by Benefits and Pension Monitor, it is discussed that the modern workplace faces significant challenges.
One of the key challenges is managing chronic diseases like obesity, which is linked to various health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and depression.
Recognizing obesity as a chronic disease can improve health benefit plans, enhancing employees' physical health, mental wellbeing, and productivity.
Obesity presents both economic and health challenges. In Canada, it imposed an economic burden of approximately $7.1bn in 2010, with $3.9bn in direct medical costs and $3.2bn in indirect costs due to disability, loss of productivity, or early death.
Additionally, obesity increases the risk of many top health benefit cost drivers in the country.
Many Canadian employers' health benefit plans do not sufficiently cover obesity treatments, resulting in a gap in care. This lack of coverage can perpetuate the cycle of obesity and related comorbidities, further increasing health costs.
Employers can better support their employees by ensuring their health benefit plans align with the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines.
