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WHY SHOULD EMPLOYERS get involved
in wellness issues? Isn't this something that
should be handled on a personal or family level?
Put aside for a moment the time
when organizations and employers encouraged a
culture of "one big happy family." Instead,
look at the bottom line.
The cost of health care, unlike
other technology and research-based products (like
computers,) is increasing every year. In 2002
alone, health care costs are projected to go up
13-16 percent, accompanied over the next few years
by a 15-20 percent rise in health insurance premiums,
according to an article in the Feb. 2002 issue
of Workforce.
These costs are unprecedented
in the burden they add to an organization's bottomline.
Health
Promotion and Wellness Programs
Fortunately, there is a way to
hold back the trend. A growing cache of research*
data links an individual's lifestyle behaviors
(diet, exercise, etc.) to their health risk status
(potential for developing chronic diseases or
having a major medical event.) And health risk
status has been tied directly to health care costs.
The good news is, worksite wellness
programs have been shown to reduce health care-related
costs and worker absenteeism, plus improve productivity.
This mounting evidence indicates that worksite
wellness should be part of every strategic plan.
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Research Findings
[Numbers in brackets
reference the source of information.]
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At least
one quarter of the health care costs incurred
by working adults can be attributed to modifiable
health risks (e.g., diet, exercise, tobacco
use, etc.) [2]
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As specific health risks increase
(e.g., more sedentary, more overweight)
health care costs increase [3]
- As the number
of health risks increase (e.g., sedentary
+ overweight + unhealthy diet) health
care costs increase [3]
- Individuals who's
health risk status is high have
higher health care costs than individuals
with lower health risk status [3]
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As an individual's health risk becomes
greater, the likelihood that they will
experience a major, high cost medical
event becomes greater. [5]
- As an individual's
health risk status improves (decreases),
their medical claims costs decline.
[5]
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Adults' poor nutrition
habits are linked to $146 billion in
medical costs per year (almost 15% of an
estimated total national medical expenditure
of $1 trillion.) [4]
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Worksite wellness interventions
that promote physical activity have been
shown to significantly lower overall
medical care costs and improve worker
productivity. [4]
A study predicts that employees
participating in worksite-based fitness
programs will have 1.2 fewer absences
per year. [6]
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Three out of 5 doctors visits*
and 1/3 of ER visits are "inappropriate".
Cost per visit is $30 and $45, respectively.
[4]
*primary care provider
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American adults' sedentary
lifestyle adds upwards of $76.6 billion
in yearly direct medical costs (2000 dollars.)
[7] Click
here for full article
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Health-related costs in the
US due to overweight and obesity is $117
billion (2000,
estimated.)
The cost of chronic disease
in the US is more than half a trillion dollars
(2000 total
for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, &
arthritis = $505 billion.) [8]
At worksites with physical
activity programs, employers have
reduced health care costs by 20 to 55
percent
reduced short-term sick leave by 6 to
32 percent
increased productivity by 2 to 52 percent.
[8]
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References
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| [1]
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Leutzinger JA, Ozminkowski RJ, Dunn
RL, Goetzel RZ, Richling DE, Stewart
M, Whitmer RW. Projecting future medical
care costs using four scenarios of
lifestyle risk rates. Am J Health
Promot. 2000; 15:35-44.
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| [2] |
Anderson DR, Whitmer RW, Goetzel
RZ, Ozminkowski RJ, Wasserman J, Serxner
S, Health Enhancement Research Organization
(HERO) Research Committee. The relationship
between modifiable health risks and
group-level health care expenditures.
Am J Health Promot. 2000; 15:45-52.
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| [3] |
Golaszewski T. Health risks and group-level
health care expenditures. Am J
Health Promot. 2000; 15:53-54.
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| [4] |
Riedel JE, Lynch W, Baase C, Hymel
P, Peterson KW. The effect of disease
prevention and health promotion on
workplace productivity: A literature
review. Am J Health Promot.
2001; 15:167-191.
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| [5]
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Edington DW, Yen LT, Witting P. The
financial impact of changes in personal
health practices. J Occup Environ
Med. 1997;39:1037-1046. As reported
in Riedel, et al., 2001.
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| [6]
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Lynch WD, Golaszewski TJ, Clearie
AF, Snow D, Vickery DM. Impact of
a facility-based corporate fitness
program on the nimber of absences
from work due to illness. J Occup
Med. 1990;32:9-12. As reported
in Riedel, et al., 2001.
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| [7]
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Lower Direct Medical Costs Associated
with Physical Activity. CDC /National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion press release.
Web site http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pr-cost.htm
accessed 2/20/02
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| [8] |
Physical Activity
Fundamental To Preventing Disease. June
20, 2002. Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services. http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/physicalactivity/
accessed 7/5/02 |
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The most credible data-based
information comes from "peer-reviewed"
research. This means that the entire research
process, from interpretation of previous research
findings and working hypothesis, to scientific
method and interpretation of results, are subject
to the scrutiny of other, recognized research
scientists. This research is not published until
it passes muster. All of the research cited here
is reported in peer-reviewed journals.
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