As you read this, more than a third of your employee base could be navigating obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity affects 42.4% of all adults in the United States. Yet, obesity is likely not the only condition they’re struggling with.
Obesity has also been linked to numerous chronic diseases, negatively affecting the overall well-being of your employees — and your company’s bottom line. Based on 2022 data, a quarter of U.S. employers said obesity has the largest impact on overall healthcare costs.
Organizations prioritizing employee wellness and business spending can achieve both priorities by understanding the connection between well-being and weight loss, how weight loss management can prevent chronic conditions, and what makes weight loss management sustainable.
The intersection of obesity and other chronic conditions
Obesity is a systemic issue affecting numerous parts of the body, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and it often exists with other comorbidities. These include:
- Cardiovascular: Examples include hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure.
- Gastrointestinal: Examples include gastroesophageal reflux disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Metabolic: Examples include type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia.
- Psychological: Examples include depression and anxiety.
- Musculoskeletal: Examples include osteoarthritis and low back pain.
- Reproductive health: Examples include polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility.
- Respiratory: Examples include obstructive sleep apnea and asthma.
Some types of cancer, like breast, colon, endometrial and kidney cancers, can be associated with obesity.
Those who have a chronic condition can face costly treatments, including specialty medications, and even hospitalization. According to United Healthcare, chronic conditions account for 29% of total employer healthcare spending (on average) due to these expensive implications and higher utilization of health services.
Why weight loss management is preventative healthcare
Employers can take proactive steps to help employees prevent certain health conditions and chronic diseases — or catch them early when they’re easier to treat. Clinically appropriate weight loss management can be one of those steps. Research shows that, by reducing body weight by 5% to 10%, persons with obesity can decrease chronic disease risk.
The same research also indicates that more than 5 million Americans could be spared from developing obesity-related hypertension if the average BMI is reduced by just 5% by 2030. That’s a big deal — and an opportunity that could result in significant cost savings for patients, providers and employers.
Doctor-prescribed GLP-1 agonists, the safest and most effective medications for weight loss, are known for significant beneficial results, such as regulating digestion and improving metabolic function. They may also reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. It’s not just doctors who believe in the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications, either.
Three-fourths of HR decision-makers agree that GLP-1 medications are beneficial for boosting weight loss, controlling blood sugar, improving blood pressure and lowering the risk of heart disease.
However, effective weight management is more than just medication. With access to the right program, employees can not only manage their weight and mitigate obesity-related complications, but they can also learn to adopt healthier lifestyles that can have a lasting, positive impact on their well-being.
Beyond diet and exercise: what effective weight loss management looks like
Comprehensive weight management programs can lead to losing at least 10% of one’s body weight (with some programs resulting in an average weight loss of 18%). Contrary to popular belief, lasting weight loss doesn’t come from dieting and willpower.
Sustainable weight loss requires improving your overall metabolic health, which affects everything from mood to immune function to risk for chronic disease. Research indicates that the most effective way to achieve sustainable metabolic health is through a combination of medication, coaching and lifestyle changes.
“Medications must complement lifestyle adjustments encompassing not just diet and physical activity, but also emotional well-being and quality sleep,” says vice president of clinical development at Calibrate, Kristin Baier, MD, who points to four specific lifestyle pillars that, when combined with responsibly utilizing effective medications, lead to sustainable behavior change and weight loss.
It’s more than just weight loss, too. Calibrate’s proprietary data shows that members who started with prediabetes or diabetes (one of the comorbidities mentioned above) achieved normal HbA1c levels at 12 months. Now, that’s preventative healthcare in action.
Invest in your employees’ well-being to save on healthcare costs
The healthier your employees, the healthier your bottom line. With Calibrate’s outcomes-driven program, you can give employees a holistic benefit that not only helps them manage their weight but also helps them achieve a healthier lifestyle — while lowering their risk for chronic diseases.
What else gets lowered? Your total cost of care.
Schedule a demo with Calibrate to learn how a comprehensive weight management solution can benefit your employees and your bottom line.