Healthcare costs are on the rise and most of it can be directly related to obesity. People that are overweight are costing their employers millions of lost production dollars. A person that is overweight is twice as likely to take more time off work and they visit the doctor more frequently than their healthy co-workers. To combat the obesity problem in America, several employers have started to implement programs to help their employees start losing weight and get in shape.
To get your employees to lose weight, don’t offer them incentives that are focused on food. You want them to lose weight by eating less, so this completely combats the purpose of having a weight loss program.
You can help your employees lose weight at work by offering healthier choices. If you want to have a nice company party in celebration of everyone’s hard work, don’t bring in doughnuts and unhealthy foods. Have some healthier alternatives like salads and sandwiches. The food you serve will have a huge impact upon your employees so it is important to bring in foods that are centered on health.
Get rid of your vending machines. Since most vending machines are full of foods that are sugary and empty calories, it makes no sense why you would keep them if you want your employees to lose weight. Replace the sodas with juice and water, replace the chips with granola bars and fruit. It is time to start getting everyone healthy by watching the foods they eat.
People can’t lose weight through diet alone, you must also encourage exercise at the office. One of the best ways to get your employees to start exercising is to offer exercise classes during work hours. Offer a yoga class or give them an extra 30 minutes a day to spend on exercise. Put in a walking trail by your office so they have somewhere to go if they want to walk. If you don’t have a nice trail outside, put in an office gym. Even converting one room in the office to become an exercise room will encourage your employees to start exercising during work hours.
Replace the chairs in your office with exercise balls. Sitting on a ball all day will reduce the tension on the lower back and this can encourage a lot of employees to lose weight. Instead of sitting in an uncomfortable chair, they now have the option to bounce around all day while they work. It’s a wonderful way to boost morale in the office and to get your employees to lose weight.
How else can you lose weight at work? Implement a wellness program that focuses on weight loss. A wellness program should include steps on how to lose weight and make healthier eating choices. You should divide your staff members into teams so they can compete against one another to lose the most amount of weight and get in shape. The group that wins should be given a nice reward like a day off work, a vacation, or a cash reward. If you don’t have a good incentive for them to work toward, they may not have the motivation they need to lose weight. One of the best reasons to implement a wellness program is not only to get your staff in shape, but to lower your healthcare costs. Several healthcare companies will reduce your healthcare costs if you implement a wellness program. You will also start to see a drop in your premiums because your employees are getting in shape and they aren’t visiting the doctor as much. This can move a high-risk employee into a low-risk pool and this will have a huge impact upon your healthcare costs.