As obesity rates rise across the U.S., a new study from UnitedHealthcare and the Health Action Council examines the financial costs that this growing “epidemic” may cause for employers.
The report (PDF) notes that 75% of adults in U.S. are either overweight or obese, up from 50% in 1990. Obesity rates grew fastest among younger adults, according to the report.
The HAC represents about 230 self-funded employers, and, among its members, about a quarter (26%) have been diagnosed with obesity. The obese population accounts for 46% of the employers’ medical spend, according to the report.
Per member per month costs for obese employees were more than double on average compared to those who were not obese, the study found. Per member per month costs for those with obesity averaged $973, compared to $421 for non-obese workers.
“We see a bunch of different health consequences come through in the data,” said Craig Kurtzweil, chief data and analytics officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual.
Metabolic conditions are common among people with obesity, for example. For workers in their 50s, diabetes rates were 2.5 times higher among obese individuals. Cholesterol rates among employees in their 40s were also 2.5 times higher, and hypertension rates were three times higher.
Cancers, musculoskeletal problems and heart disease are also more common among obese individuals, and these conditions are among the most prominent cost concerns for employers. For instance, obese individuals were three times more likely to undergo a hip replacement and five times more likely to undergo a knee replacement.
Obesity was also linked to a higher prevalence on behavioral health needs, according to the study. Adults with obesity had 33% higher rates of anxiety, 50% higher rates of substance abuse, 61% higher rates of depression and 87% higher rates of eating disorders.
Behavioral health conditions also represent a critical focus area for employers. However, employers have traditionally put an emphasis on the associated comorbidities rather than obesity itself as a health concern.
“I think what we’re saying is maybe we need to start looking at weight as a category to address and then manage, and along with that, some of the chronic conditions,” Patty Starr, CEO of the HAC, told Fierce Healthcare.
The study also found that when parents were obese, it was linked to higher utilization and medical costs for their children.
For employers that want to tackle this challenge, the report recommends that they start by collecting and analyzing the data necessary to paint a full picture of the needs of their employee population. Then, it’s important to educate workers on health habits and promote those in the workplace, such as stocking a break room with healthy options.
Specific initiatives an employer could try include creating a garden as a team-building exercise, with the fresh produce available at minimal or no cost. The employer could also coordinate with a local grocer or food distributor for labels that highlight healthy foods.
“There’s a lot of reasons why people struggle with this, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all sort of solution,” said Kurtzweil. “You need to have a multipronged approach.”