Burning Calories for Better Business

ENS Marylou Dryer, MS4
Journalist, BodyTek PT

Health and fitness are something which most of us aspire to achieve. Lifestyle changes are even some of the most popular New Year resolutions made by Americans each January. But the time and effort required to achieve these goals sometimes hinder the most well-intentioned individuals if they do not find encouragement and opportunity to keep them dedicated. Even though it can be tough to keep, do you think failing on that resolution hurts only your waistline? Actually, your employer suffers too - whether or not you have health benefits. So, many businesses are stepping up to nudge you along by providing employee wellness programs.

Everyone knows that in the business world money talks, and research in the field of occupational health has shown that wellness programs can actually cut business costs by 30%. 5 A study by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine points out that by having a fit workforce, employers avoid paying for replacement workers when others call in sick; reduce money spent on diagnosis, treatment, and disability; prevent losses in production or lost revenue because of idle assets; eliminate planned overstaffing; and reduce costs of tax liability and training due to employee turnover. They concluded that "employer's interests are best served in the context of a maximally productive workforce, which derives, in a large part, from employee's individual and collective work and personal health, their feeling of worth, and their quality of life."1

And the researchers aren't just looking at big business. In fact, those industries that are more service intensive and therefore have a larger percentage of business cost wrapped up in wages may be affected even more. That same study found that "the financial burdens of ill health could approach 10 to 15 percent of the cost of the final product," so the business that can cut these costs and improve productivity may gain "a significant pricing advantage over their competitors." 1

It makes sense that a healthy, productive employee would be good for business, but can an employer influence their staff to remember those resolutions and actually get fit? Several scientists who have looked into the issue over the past few years are saying "yes." Last year, the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion performed a review of published research to determine whether policy and environmental programs could increase people's physical activity or improve their nutrition. Their research suggested that "comprehensive work-site approaches, including education, employee and peer support for physical activity, incentives, and access to exercise facilities" as well as "the availability of nutritious foods" and other factors actually could motivate employees to get moving and make healthier food choices. 7 Considering just how closely employee health and employer costs were actually related, an article in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine found that higher health care costs were directly related to increased body mass. 14

Seven of the top ten most costly health conditions in the United States are related to vascular disease, diabetes, and back pain.6 But the risks for all of these conditions can be reduced by improved fitness, and the lifestyle changes that lead to reductions in cholesterol and other health benefits are indeed influenced by work situations.4 This was prove last year by both Dr. Cho at the Inha University Hospital, Korea and by the Agency for Healthcare, Research and Quality in Maryland which reviewed research including 5,168 participants and showed those who lost and maintained as little as 2.8 kg (that's just over six pounds) improved their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar control. Norris Even though these are fairly realistic and achievable goals for most people, the effort still requires dedication over time.

With proof that work wellness programs can motivate people to achieve their health and fitness goals and that the result over time will be reduced costs for employers, what's stopping every business from launching a mandatory work out routine? Well, one thing that has not yet been shown through research is how to get change to happen more quickly. But if your business hasn't yet begun a comprehensive health program for you, don't let that hold you back. Decide with a group of your co-workers to get active and eat something good for you for lunch. If you encourage each other, you all can achieve your fitness goals.

 

Reference:

1. American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine -http://www.acoem.org/health_productivity/bernacki.asp
   
2. http://www.acoem.org/health_productivity/application.asp
   
3. Castillo Garzon MJ. Improvement of physical fitness as anti-aging intervention. Med Clin(Barc). 2005 Feb 5;124(4):146-55
   
4. Cho EY. The effect of job stress and lifestyle on blood lipid levels in male aircrew personnel. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2005 Jun;35(4):672-9.
   
5. Comprehensive Health Services - http://www.chsmedical.com/wellness.html
   
6. Goetzel, Ron Z. PhD. The Health and Productivity Cost Burden of the "Top 10" Physical and Mental Health Conditions Affecting Six Large U.S. Employers in 1999. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 45(1):5-14, January 2003.
   
7. Matson-Koffman DM. A site-specific literature review of policy and environmental interventions that promote physical activity and nutrition for cardiovascular health: what works? Am J Health Promot. 2005 Jan-Feb;19(3):167-93.
   
8. Moe EL. Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Aternative Models' Effects (PHLAME). Health Educ Res. 2002 Oct; 17(5):586-96.
   
9. Norris SL. Long-term non-pharmacological weight loss interventions for adults with prediabetes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Apr 18;(2):CD005270.
   
10. Panagiotakos DB. The association between lifestyle-related factors and plasma homocysteine levels in healthy individuals from the "ATTICA" Study. Int J Cardiol. 2005 Feb 28;98(3):471-7.
    
11. Pelletier B. Change in health risks and work productivity over time. J Occup Environ Med. 2004 Jul; 46(7):746-54.
    
12. Persson M. Situations influencing habits in diet and exercise among nurses working night shift. J Nurs Manag. 2006 Jul;14(5):414-23.
    
13. Wandel M. Work, food and physical activity. A qualitative study of coping strategies among men in three occupations. Appetite. 2005 Feb;44(1):93-102.
    
14. Wang, Feifei PhD. Association of Healthcare Costs With Per Unit Body Mass Index Increase. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 48(7):668-674, July 2006.