The dramatic increase in overweight and obesity over the last 20 years has caused a plateau in the fight against heart disease, concludes research presented at the American Heart Association annual meeting last fall. And a study in the journal Diabetes Care makes the dire prediction of a near double incidence of diabetes in the next 2 decades — with cost increases of 300%. The current healthcare debate will seem almost quaint when we look back in 2030 if we don’t stem the tide of runaway fatness.

We Have Met the Enemy…

Forget about Al-Qaeda; the biggest threat to national security is our lifestyle. We’re a nation (and increasingly, a world) of over-indulgent whiners who think the government should cure all of our ills, that we should never have to sacrifice, and that if we fall on hard times — whether the result of bad luck or our own poor choices — we deserve a bailout. And unfortunately, we’ve a generation of politicians in Washington who feed that beast in the interest of self-preservation — the Napoleon Dynamite equivalent of elect Pedro and all your dreams will come true. 

The it’s-not-my-responsibility national mindset, combined with our leaders inability to put what’s right for the nation ahead of what’s right for their political career, is creating the perfect storm for financial disaster. The cost to treat chronic illness related to obesity will make group health insurance impossible for many organizations and private insurance for individuals out of reach. A public “option” won’t be an option; it will be a given if the majority of citizens are to have health insurance of any type.

Taking Control of Weight Control

Many wellness managers could make a credible argument for a program model that’s 100% geared toward stopping the spread of overweight and obesity. It is, by far, the single issue with the greatest long-term impact on health, productivity, and healthcare costs in most organizations. All the trends point toward it getting worse unless you take control. Here’s what you can do:

• In addition to offering a comprehensive weight control program, consider building a weight management component into every service you offer. Why? Because the habits (healthy diet and active lifestyle) that control weight also have a positive effect on almost every other health concern — stress, fitness, depression, energy, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.
• Examine current programming. Are you incorporating exercise and healthy eating patterns into every service? Are you providing tools for participants to set goals and track progress? Do you have a comprehensive weight management strategy that accounts for all learning styles and segments of your population?
• Explore community options. Know what’s available in your area so you can refer clients with confidence. If you’re unsure of a provider’s credibility, ask a local registered dietitian with weight control experience to help you evaluate the services.
• Tie fitness activities to cafeteria offerings, including discounts on healthy entrees for employees enrolled in weight control programs. If you don’t have a cafeteria, involve local lunch restaurants to provide coupons.
• Emphasize a get active theme throughout the year in newsletters, fliers, and presentations.
• Build buddy, team, and family options into every service with a weight control goal. Social support is one of the most significant predictors of success.

Make a Personal Appeal

No issue is more emotionally charged for many than weight. That concern, along with a general sensitivity to social correctness, has made health promoters timid about appealing directly to individuals who are obviously overweight. That’s a shame, because many are too embarrassed to have the confidence to make that first step.  

While you risk offending some, done tactfully and in the spirit of improving overall health, almost everyone will appreciate the gesture, even if they’re not ready to start today.  

To help make the business case for a comprehensive weight management strategy in your organization, read Employer-Sponsored Weight Management: The Business Case. And check out Health Enhancement Systems’ NutriSum: Healthy Weight for Life program at www.nutrisum.com.