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Employers Overweight and obesity had a significant impact on employers through higher health care costs, increased absences, and lower productivity. In response, some employers included weight loss in their wellness programs. Two well documented programs were Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J’s) Health & Wellness Program and Hoffmann-La Roche’s Wellness Program.

Johnson & Johnson’s Health & Wellness Program Established to make J&J employees “the healthiest in the world,” the program increased participation from 26% to 90% in four years, coinciding with the company’s offering financial incentives (a $500 medical plan discount) for those who completed a health risk assessment and enrolled in a high-risk intervention program (participation, not change in health status, was required), if recommended [109] ( Exhibit 4 shows the results). But four years after 18,000 employees began the program, only 11,500 remained. [110]

Hoffmann-La Roche’s Wellness Program Hoffmann La Roche increased spending on prevention from 2% to 10% of health care costs. Its program included both primary prevention of disease (health screening, on-site fitness center, healthy-eating seminars, weight-management courses, a cafeteria menu filled with heart-healthy choices, and a wellness hotline through a third-party provider) and secondary-care options (a Mayo Clinic self-care book mailed to every employee and access to an online self-care Web site). Sixty-nine percent of employees participated in an annual health-risk assessment. Follow-up programs were targeted to employee subgroups based on their level of risk and readiness to change. Employee participation in the on-site component of the wellness program skyrocketed (from 2% to 20%) when an incentive program (a $25 gift certificate for attendance at four wellness programs over three months) was added. [111]

Consumers

Attempting to lose or maintain weight One study found that 40% of women and 25% of men were attempting to lose weight and 30% of women and men were trying to maintain their current weight levels. [112] Dieters had used three diets within the last three years. [113]

The American Dietetic Association found the following attitudes towards obesity, health, and weight loss: people unconcerned with their diet, nutrition, and fitness—32%; people concerned but who have not taken significant action—30%; and people concerned and who have taken significant action—38%. A Weight Watchers study of weight loss motivators found: 29% (women), 18% (men)—appearance; 21% (women), 29% (men)—future health; and 16% (for both women and men)—current health.

Utilization of services, success rates A study of patient demand for reimbursed nutritional counseling concluded that the utilization in a Medicare health maintenance organization was quite low: Only 13.7% of diabetes patients, 5.3% of cardiovascular disease patients, and 15% of renal disease patients were seen by a dietician at least once in a five-year period and only 1.5 average visits over a five-year period. [114]

Various studies demonstrated that 80% of all dieters regained their lost weight and went on to add even more. [115]

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