Costs Driving Employer Action Against Obesity

1
Costs Driving Employer Action Against Obesity

• National Opinion Research Center at the
  University of Chicago
• Jon Gabel, Senior Fellow
• In conjunction with
• The George Washington University School of
  Public Health and Health Services

2
Major Findings

• Both employers and employees see weight
  management programs as appropriate and effective.
• 71 of employers view offering obesity-related
  services as appropriate
• 80 of employees, regardless of weight, agree
  healthful lifestyles/weight management programs
  belong in the workplace
• 73 of employers view offering obesity-related
  services as effective
• 67 of employers are concerned about the effects
  of obesity on medical claims expenses
• 93 of employers see obesity as a preventable
  condition and the result of poor lifestyle
  choices
• Less than half of employers believe their company
  has given enough attention to the problem of
  obesity

3
Objectives

• To document current weight management programs
  offered at the workplace
• To learn about employers and employees attitudes
  about obesity
• To examine employees views on weight management
  programs at the workplace

Source NORC/George Washington University Survey
on Employer and Employee Views of Obesity, 2007
4
Study Methods

• National Research LLP conducted interviews with
  employee benefit managers from 505 public and
  private employers with 50 or more workers. All
  firms surveyed also offered health insurance.
• Employers were randomly selected from a list of
  the nations employers compiled by Dun and
  Bradstreet.
• Interviews were conducted from October through
  December 2007.
• Random selection allows one to extrapolate from
  sample to U.S. population for typical employer.

5
Study Methods

• ICR conducted telephone interviews with 1,352
  persons in January 2008
• Age 18-64
• Employed full or part-time
• Employer had 50 or more workers
• Employee was enrolled in an employer or
  employee-sponsored plan.
• The study uses statistical weights to extrapolate
  to the relevant US population

Source NORC/George Washington University Survey
on Employer and Employee Views of Obesity, 2007
6
Most Employers See Obesity as a Preventable
Condition and the Result of Poor Lifestyle
Choices
Chart 17
7
A Majority of Employers Are Concerned about
Medical Costs Associated with Obesity
Chart 14
Estimate is significantly different from all
other firms by response category.
8
Employers Think Weight Management Programs Are
Appropriate -- Cite Costs as Major Reason
Chart 3
Jumbo firm estimate is significantly different
from all other firms.
9
Most Firms Think Weight Management Programs are
Effective, Want More Evidence
Chart 4
Jumbo firm estimate is significantly different
from all other firms.
10
Eight Out of Ten Employees No Matter Their
Weight Say Weight Management Programs Belong at
Work
Exhibit 3
Tests found no significantly different
estimates from all other BMI levels
Source NORC/George Washington University Survey
on Employer and Employee Views of Obesity, 2007
11
Employers Has your firm given enough resources
to fight obesity?
Chart 2
Tests found no significantly different
estimates from all other firms by response
category.
12
Comparison of Weight Categorization, Body Mass
Index Versus Self-reported
Exhibit 1

• Self Perceived Weight Categorization

• Body Mass Index (BMI) Weight Categorization

Source NORC/George Washington University Survey
on Employer and Employee Views of Obesity, 2007