The heavy, heavy burden of obesity: obesity increases the cost of workers' compensation claims and the risk of traumatic workplace injuries, new surveys show

Risk & Insurance, Dec, 2007 by Joshua Clifton

Provide discounted health-club memberships. If employees receive a discount to belong to a health-club facility nearby, they will be more likely to take advantage of the offer and sign up.

Host healthy-living and weight-loss seminars. One of the major challenges an obese employee might have when it comes to weight loss is knowing where to start. Bring in occasional speakers from the community--from dieticians and nutritionists to personal trainers and weight-loss consultants. Provide a different topic for each seminar that can help employees make small changes that will hopefully, eventually, yield big results.

Start a company fitness club. This club could include prizes for employees who meet their exercise and weight-loss goals, or could be something as simple as a walking group to encourage employees, particularly those who are obese, to spend a half-hour of their hour-long lunch break walking outside. Provide a signup sheet or other communique so employees can meet up with others who also might like to walk off their weight at lunch.

Clean out the vending machines. If your office's break-room options are limited to chips, cookies and soda, it's time for a change. Ask your vendor to change out much of the unhealthy fare with items such as granola bars, baked chips, roasted almonds and juice.

Offer support. If employees want to make a concerted effort to lose unhealthy pounds or improve their health, consider providing some financial support. Forge a partnership with your local Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers so employees who need help losing weight can receive support at a discount. Offer free or subsidized smoking cessation courses.

--Joshua Clifton

JOSHUA CLIFTON is editor of the Workers' Compensation Report, a newsletter owned by the parent company of Risk & Insurance@. He can be reached at riskletters@lrp.com.