Healthy Diet Seen Boosting Productivity

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Healthy Diet Seen Boosting Productivity

• By Ryan Montoya
• March 2, 2004

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Diet Statistics

• Cost of unhealthy diets amounts to billions of
  dollars a year in lost productivity
• Overweight workers are twice as likely as fit
  workers to miss work.
• Fat and sugar puts workers at risk for diabetes
  and obesity-related illnesses

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What Companies Are Doing

• Dole Inc. reconfigured their cafeteria options.
• Got Rid of unhealthy snack and lunch options
• Included an unlimited salad bar for 1.50
• Free fruit and snacks in the mornings
• Encourage employees to work out with senior
  management

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Other Companies

• Healthy workplace companies, like the one at
  Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd in Ontario,
  Canada, include red meat and deep-fried items as
  part of their banned items and also have three
  helpings of vegetables that come with every meal.

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Results

• After six months, tests on 60 volunteers found
  lower cholesterol, lower levels of certain
  proteins that are predictors of future heart
  disease, lower triglycerides and glucose levels.
• Downside Very costly

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Discussion Questions

• Should companies be allowed to infringe on the
  right that employees should be able to eat what
  they want?
• Do you feel that your eating habits can effect
  your performance at work?
• Would a plan like this work at your work?