Employer and Healthcare Policy Interventions Aimed at Adult Obesity

Fuemmeler, Bernard F.; Baffi, Charlie; Mâsse, Louise C.; Atienza, Audie A.; Evans, William B.

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2006.09.003

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…For example, a construction worker must lift heavy objects, while a white-collared employee may spend majority of his or her working hours at a desk. Considering the amount of time and money obesity in the workplace has cost, companies have targeted their focus on developing interventions that are tailored to different occupational settings [33,35,37,39,40]. In turn, employees often know what makes a workplace vibrant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Implementation of obesity prevention or weight management intervention programs and strategies in the workplace, in a form of health promotion or worker wellness programs aimed at weight, nutrition, stress, and physical activity, taking into consideration the obesity rates of today, may be important for employers to consider [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] ( Table 2 [42]. In a recent literature review of the effectiveness of workplace health interventions by Schröer et al, beneficial health effects have been found in interventions aimed at workplace nutrition and multi-component physical activity, both of which, when combined, showed a greater effect on weight loss over solely one or the other; however, this review have not found any evidence of increased efficacy associated with any specific intervention reviewed [43].…”

Section: Obesity and Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lost-time illness, injury and disability and its relationship with obesity in the workplace: A comprehensive literature review

Nowrouzi

Gohar

Nowrouzi‐Kia

et al. 2016

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

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The objective of this study was to conduct a literature review examining predictors of lost-time injury, illness and disability (IID) in the workplace, with a focus on obesity as a predictor, and to evaluate the relationship between obesity and losttime IID. The study objective was also to analyze workplace disability prevention and interventions aimed at encouraging a healthy lifestyle among employees and reducing obesity and IID, as well as to identify research gaps. The search was conducted in several major online databases. Articles included in the review were published in English in peer-reviewed journals between January 2003 and December 2014, and were found to be of good quality and of relevance to the topic. Each article was critically reviewed for inclusion in this study. Studies that focused on lost-time IID in the workplace were reviewed and summarized. Workers in overweight and obese categories are shown to be at a higher risk of workplace IID, are more likely to suffer from lost-time IID, and experience a slower recovery compared to workers with a healthy body mass index (BMI) score. Lost-time IID is costly to an employer and an employee; therefore, weight reduction may financially benefit both -workers and companies. It was found that some companies have focused on developing interventions that aid reduction of weight and the practice of active lifestyle among their employees. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(5):749-766

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Obesity and Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lost-time illness, injury and disability and its relationship with obesity in the workplace: A comprehensive literature review

Nowrouzi

Gohar

Nowrouzi‐Kia

et al. 2016

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Previous survey research has focused on employees’ perspectives about weight management programs and obesity treatment, 19 and beliefs among U.S. adults about employer and public policy strategies to promote obesity treatment. 20 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insurance Coverage for Weight Loss

Jarlenski

Gudzune

Bennett

et al. 2013

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

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Background Given the prevalence of obesity and associated chronic conditions among U.S. adults, wellness benefits are an increasingly popular approach to promoting weight loss. Purpose The goal of the study was to assess overweight and obese adults’ beliefs about the helpfulness of insurance coverage of weight loss–related benefits, their willingness to pay for such benefits, and whether these opinions differ by individuals’ weight or health insurance type. Methods A national survey was fielded in 2012 am ong non-pregnant, overweight and obese adults who had seen a primary care provider in the past year (n=600). Descriptive statistics summarized beliefs about which weight loss–related benefits would be helpful, willingness to pay for such benefits, and agreement about whether health insurers should be able to charge more to obese individuals. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to determine whether beliefs differed by weight category or health insurance type. Analyses were conducted in July 2012. Results The majority (83%) of respondents cited a specific benefit as helpful. Those with private health insurance had a higher probability (89%, 95% CI=86%, 93%) of endorsing any benefit as helpful relative to those with other types of health insurance. Being obese relative to overweight was associated with greater support (57% vs 39%, p<0.05) for preventing health insurers from charging higher premiums to obese individuals. Conclusions In this sample of overweight adults, a large proportion endorsed the value of weight loss–related benefits offered by health plans. However, only about one third were willing to pay extra for them, and half disagreed with the notion that health plans should charge more to obese individuals. Given evidence of their effectiveness, wellness benefits should be offered to all individuals.

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“…12,14,15 For sun protection, the adoption of comprehensive policies, including a focus on environmental controls (ie, providing shade in work areas and adjusting work schedules), administrative procedures (ie, conducting risk assessments, providing routine employee and supervisor training, reviewing and monitoring policy, allocating resources, and requiring contractor compliance), and personal sun protection by employees (ie, encouraging or requiring sunscreen, protective clothing, hats, and eyewear and screening for skin cancer) should be considered. 16,17 Such policies can set organizational and individual agendas for sun safety, integrate sun-protection programs into an organization’s operations, and brand these programs as part of an organization’s culture.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated With Occupational Sun-Protection Policies in Local Government Organizations in Colorado

et al. 2015

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IMPORTANCE Skin cancer prevention remains a national priority. Reducing chronic UV radiation exposure for outdoor workers through sun-safety practices is an important step to help reduce the incidence of skin cancer. OBJECTIVE To determine the presence of occupational sun-safety policies at local government organizations in a single state. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Of 571 potentially eligible local government organizations of Colorado cities, counties, and special tax districts, we enrolled 98 in a randomized pretest-posttest controlled experiment starting August 15, 2010, that evaluated an intervention to promote the adoption of sun-safety policies. We used a policy-coding protocol to evaluate personal sun-protection practices, environmental and administrative controls, and policy directives for sun safety starting February 10, 2011. We report the baseline assessment of the occupational sun-protection policies of these organizations. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The presence of an occupational sun-safety policy. RESULTS Overall, 85 local government organizations (87%) had policies that required personal sun-protection practices, including the use of eyewear, hats, and protective clothing. However, of the 98 responding organizations, only 8 hat policies (8%), 10 eyewear policies (10%), and 7 clothing policies (7%) mentioned sun protection as the intent of the policy. Only cosmopoliteness, operationalized as proximity to an urban area, was associated with the presence of a sun-safety policy (odds ratio, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.98–1.00]; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Outdoor workers are at increased risk for skin cancer because of long-term exposure to solar UV radiation. Although organizational policies have the potential to increase sun protection in occupational settings, occupational sun-safety policies were uncommon among local governments. Opportunities exist for dermatologists and other physicians to influence occupational sun-safety practices and policies, which are consistent with other safety procedures and could easily be integrated into existing workplace practices.

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Employer and Healthcare Policy Interventions Aimed at Adult Obesity

Cited by 12 publications

References 18 publications

Lost-time illness, injury and disability and its relationship with obesity in the workplace: A comprehensive literature review

Lost-time illness, injury and disability and its relationship with obesity in the workplace: A comprehensive literature review

Insurance Coverage for Weight Loss

Factors Associated With Occupational Sun-Protection Policies in Local Government Organizations in Colorado

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