Posted by Employer Wellness | Posted in Employer Wellness | Posted on 23-07-2010
Advantages of Nutrition Programs
Nutrition directly impacts almost every aspect of physical and mental health. A healthy diet can help protect against such conditions as heart illness, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, certain cancers and depression. Obesity, which is among the most common conditions linked to diet, affects a record number of Americans.
The American Journal of Wellness estimates the cost of obesity to United States company to exceed $12.5 billion in health care, sick leave, and life and disability insurance.
Moreover, one study reports that obesity raises healthcare costs by 36 percent and medication costs by 77 percent. to offset the health risks of obesity and poor diet, many corporations have committed to assisting employees ensure proper nutrition and undertake weight control programs.
Popular nutrition programs –
• Provide staff members with educational materials or classes on proper nutrition provided by a registered dietitian.
• Offer onsite Weight Watchers meetings or other weight control programs.
• Give nutritious and health conscience meal options in the cafeteria and vending machines.
• Obviously post nutrition information for all cafeteria and vending machine items.
• Offer low cost, healthy, take-home dinner choices for workers and their families.
• Draw attention to healthful consuming habits by providing token incentives, such as pencils or ID holders, for achieving five fruits or vegetable servings a day for a week.
Nutrition programs in action
While many companies address weight control through fitness initiatives, companies are increasingly focusing on nutrition through separate programming. Recognizing the productivity increase and reduced medical expenditures that come with maintaining a healthy weight, many companies might help pay for obesity treatments for staff members.
For instance, to improve the health of dangerously obese workers, drug maker Wyeth reportedly pays for stomach-shrinking surgeries that carry price tags of up to $40,000.
A 2003 Society of Human Resource (HR) Management study shows that 24 percent of employers offer weight loss programs. In Ohio, Honda offers an on-site, registered dietitian who provides individual or group consultations on weight management. Body fat analysis and Body Mass Index measurements are available to employees at any time.
At Grange Insurance’s Columbus headquarters, the cafeteria chef examines meals and provides workers basic nutrition information, including Weight Watchers points.
A lot of businesses partner with the American Cancer Society to offer nutrition information through the “5-ADay” program, which provides companys free signage and educational materials about the importance of consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
The program also offers a fruit and vegetable “frequency card” that gives workers a free portion of fruit or vegetables after he or she has purchased a preset number.