We all know that being overweight or obese have a detrimental impact on health.

We all know that Australia is becoming one of the fattest nation in the world.

Obesity is defined as having a BMI greater than 30. This accounts for approximately one in five Australians. However an additional two in five Australians are classified as overweight, meaning they have a BMI that is greater than 25.

The cost of obesity in the workplace is continuing to become evident. Some recent data suggests:

• More employers are becoming concerned about the impact of obesity in their workplace;
• Workers with a BMI greater than 40 make twice as many workers comp with claims as their healthy weight colleagues;
• Obese workers have more absent days from work;
• Obese workers are less productive when they are at work.

Then there are the obvious impacts to the individual who suffers from obesity. These include a less active lifestyle, inability to undertake some functional activities, poor health, and the greater risk of injury, illness and disease.

With the obesity rate growing, it means more and more people are struggling to achieve a healthy weight status. It also means that more and more organisations will benefit from the implementation of weight management programs.

If this is something that your organisation is concerned about them now is the perfct time to look at implementing a weight management focused wellness program. This will have obvious benefits from a financial point of view.