A fit, financial decision: businesses focus on preventive health care to combat obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23.7 percent of United States adults age 20 years and older were obese in 2003--an increase of over 4 percent since 1997. As obesity levels continue to rise, the health implications associated with being obese, such as increased risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol, stroke, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes and an array of psychological disorders such as depression, eating disorders, distorted body image and low self-esteem, will exact an even greater toll on society.

The cost of obesity to United States businesses for health care, sick leave as well as life and disability insurance is estimated at $12.7 billion, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Health Promotion. Another study in Health Affairs estimated that cost could eventually top $30 billion. As a result, company health insurance premiums jumped an average of 13 percent last year, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation.

Based on the financial implications of increased health-insurance costs, employee absenteeism and decreased employee productivity, many corporations now entirely fund or partially subsidize incentives for employees to achieve better health. Funding or ensuring discounted fitness club memberships for their employees is becoming increasingly common. In fact, The Society for Human Resource Management's annual survey of employee-benefit managers found that 31 percent subsidize or reimburse gym membership fees--a 35 percent jump from 1999 to 2003.

A great example of businesses turning to preventive health care can be found in Florida's Tampa Bay area, where large and small companies are providing their employees health and wellness education as well as access to fitness facilities. Tampa Bay-based company, Lifestyle Family Fitness, is an active provider of preventive health care to local businesses. Its Corporate Wellness Program saw a 38 percent increase in its corporate client base during the first quarter of 2004. The increased interest in fitness is a welcome trend for Lifestyle Family Fitness.

"Each company we work with has an average of 300 employees: Any time you have the opportunity to positively impact such large audiences with fitness, it's exciting," says Erik Christenson, Lifestyle Family Fitness corporate sales director. "Companies repeatedly tell me they are surprised at how easily they can add value to their employee benefit package while decreasing employee expenses and downtime--all in one simple step. Our Corporate Wellness Plans are the ultimate win-win scenario for businesses and their employees."

Companies can tailor wellness offerings by choosing from one of three Lifestyle Family Fitness programs: the Capitation, Payroll Deduction and Online Program. Each program allows corporate members to offer their employees access to the complete network of 18 Lifestyle Family Fitness facilities located throughout the Tampa Bay area. In the Capitation Program, the employer pays for 100 percent of the program and all employees receive a Lifestyle Family Fitness membership. The Payroll Deduction Program is slightly different because it allows companies to offer their employees subsidized gym memberships. Companies set the deduction amount and any employee wishing to have a membership pays the remainder. The Online Program gives employers a way of providing their employees access to Lifestyle's fitness facilities as well as health and wellness education at a discounted rate.

In order to participate in any program offered by Lifestyle Family Fitness, the company must promote the program to its employees on a regular basis using payroll stuffers, on-site wellness presentations or company-wide e-mail communications. The key to the program's success is the human resources director, who acts as the communicator to the employees. This person becomes an extension of the sales team.

Lifestyle Family Fitness also provides an educational component with each program. Companies choosing the Online Program gain access to health and wellness information and updates through the Lifestyle Family Fitness Web site. "Companies choosing the Capitation or Payroll Deduction Programs can determine the format of their educational component," says Christenson. "We help them put together the most effective educational plan for their organization. For instance, if they want to offer their employees health and wellness seminars complete with guest speakers, we can arrange that." Many companies and organizations are realizing fitness is important business and having a healthy workforce is essential to stay competitive. To learn more about Lifestyle Family Fitness, call (727) 456-3100, ext. 4076, or visit www.lff.com.

Geoffrey A. Dyer is the founder and owner of Lifestyle Family Fitness, LLC. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Dyer has 30 years experience in the fitness industry. During his career he served as president of the International Health, Racquet & Sports Club Association (IHRSA). He has also been a member of the Faust Management roundtable group of international club owners since 1995.