Lawmakers Consider 
Legislation to Reduce Obesity

Special task force to discuss employer role in weight management

As waistlines expand, there’s little surprise that this public health issue poses a challenge to American employers. In some states, particularly California and New York, government regulators are stepping in to urge businesses to take action.

A special meeting of the California Legislative Task Force on Diabetes and Obesity will take place in October 2008, at the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute in Milpitas, California. At this hearing, experts will testify about the benefits of workplace wellness programs, the role of the employer and the economic impact of this serious public health threat. Task Force members will incorporate this testimony into their discussion and use it as a basis for potential legislation in California.

American workers want help from their employers to lose weight, according to a 2007 national Synovate Global Opinion Panel survey of 500 members who are overweight and work full-time outside of the home. Two out of three respondents to this survey report that they are interested in employer-sponsored weight control programs. But less than half (44%) of overweight employees have access to these types of programs.

Johnson & Johnson has one of the first corporate wellness models that dates back nearly 30 years. “We hope that our example can help other employers evolve beyond flu shots and blood-pressure screenings to truly have a positive influence on the well-being of the people who work for them,” says Susan Tierman, MD, Medical Director of North America for Johnson & Johnson. Overweight and obesity is associated with an increased cost of health care, lost work days, absenteeism, low productivity and high turnover rates in the workplace. In California alone, the annual cost of medical care attributable to obesity is estimated to be nearly $7.7 billion in a state where more than half of all adults (55.9%) are either overweight or obese.

It is important for employers to offer programs with realistic end goals in mind, specifically those with modest, gradual weight loss. These types of programs are the best way to help reduce the financial impact of increased health-care costs and should be a part of every business’ employee wellness program.

About Overweight and Obesity

Currently, approximately 65% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, according to the National Institutes of Health. Research suggests that overweight individuals appear to be on the pathway to obesity. Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of developing health problems such as hypertension, type II diabetes and heart disease. Factors that can contribute to being overweight include an abundance of high-calorie foods, low levels of physical activity, behaviour, environment, and genetics. Multiple studies have shown that a modest reduction in weight improves health outcomes significantly in overweight or obese patients.