LEANWorks Helps Lower Problems Caused by Obesity!

Obesity is one of the most pressing health issues affecting Americans today. The epidemic is a problem for individuals and employers alike. It can cause serious health impediments and make life insurance costs go up for individuals and employee groups.

When companies factor obesity into their life insurance calculators, the picture is often not very pretty. Since obesity is a risk factor for a long list of potentially deadly ailments, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, colon and breast cancer, and Type 2 Diabetes, life insurance quotes for the obese rise significantly.

Obese employees are less productive at their jobs.¹ Maintaining a healthier workforce can positively impact many indirect costs such as absenteeism and worker productivity.² Business owners are in need of innovative solutions to prevent and counteract employee obesity. This is where LEANWorks! comes in. ³

LEANWorks! is a website created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after receiving multiple requests from businesses desiring help combating employee obesity. LEAN is an acronym for Leading Employees to Activity and Nutrition. While LEANWorks! was designed with smaller companies in mind, under the impression that they might have limited resources to address obesity, it is useful for organizations of all sizes. The site is equipped with tools and other resources for fighting obesity, including the ability to develop a tailored company approach.

LEANWorks! uses science-based interventions of preventing and controlling obesity. Along with studying scientific literature on best practices for combating obesity, CDC observed business worksite obesity prevention strategies in real-time to discover which interventions were most effective.

Employers can discover exactly how much obesity is costing their organization, and receive personalized solutions to the issue. Ideas include weight management programs, fitness classes, health education classes during lunch, and others along those lines. More specifically, the website provides an obesity cost-calculator that allows employers to use employee demographics to figure out approximately what medical price they are paying per year due to obesity. LEANWorks! also has a section pertaining to return on investment - how much an employer can expect to gain from an obesity intervention after its cost.

When employers implement programs to combat obesity, the results extend beyond affordable life insurance plans for employees. Morale is higher overall, more workers stay at the company, and more new employees are recruited. LEANWorks! is an ideal way for employers to get ideas about motivating employees to lose weight and saving on AHA costs. LEANWorks! is located at www.cdc.gov/leanworks.

Matrix Direct has provided over five million Americans with personalized help in finding great term life insurance quotes for more than 15 years. The company offers a diverse range of term life plans, paired with quality advice geared to each customer's personal needs. Matrix Direct staff consults with clients to help find the best life insurance products for their specific situation.

Sources:

1. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine: January 2009- Volume 50 - Issue 1 - pp 39-45. Link

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Link

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention news release, June 25, 2009 "CDC Introduces New Website to Help Employers Combat Obesity and Reduce Health-Related Costs." Link