Advantages of Nutrition Programs
Nutrition directly impacts almost every aspect of physical and mental health. A healthy diet can help protect against such conditions as heart illness, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, certain cancers and depression. Obesity, which is among the most common conditions linked to diet, affects a record number of Americans.
The American Journal of Wellness estimates the cost of obesity to U.S. corporation to exceed $12.5 billion in healthcare, sick leave, and life and disability insurance.
Furthermore, one study reports that obesity raises health care costs by 36% and medication costs by 77%. To offset the health risks of obesity and poor diet, many corporations have committed to helping staff members ensure proper nutrition and undertake weight control programs.
Popular nutrition programs -
o Provide staff members with educational materials or classes on proper nutrition provided by a registered dietitian.
o Make available on-site Weight Watchers meetings or other weight management programs.
o Give nutritious and health conscience meal options in the cafeteria and vending machines.
o Obviously post nutrition information for all cafeteria and vending machine items.
o Provide low cost, healthful, take-home dinner options for employees and their families.
o Draw attention to healthy eating habits by providing token incentives, like pencils or ID holders, for achieving five fruits or vegetable servings a day for a week.
Nutrition programs in action
While many businesses address weight management through fitness initiatives, businesses are increasingly focusing on nutrition through separate programming. Recognizing the productivity improve and lowered medical expenditures that come with maintaining a healthful weight, many businesses might help pay for obesity treatments for employees.
For instance, to improve the health of dangerously obese workers, drug maker Wyeth reportedly compensates for stomach-shrinking surgeries that carry price tags of up to $40,000.
A 2003 Society of Human Resource (HR) Management study shows that 24% of companys offer weight reduction programs. In Ohio, Honda offers an onsite, registered dietitian who provides individual or group consultations on weight management. Body fat analysis and Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements are available to personnel at any time.
At Grange Insurance’s Columbus headquarters, the cafeteria chef assesses meals and provides employees basic nutrition information, including Weight Watchers points.
A lot of corporations partner with the American Cancer Society to offer nutrition information through the “5-ADay” program, which provides businesss free signage and educational materials about the importance of consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
The program also offers a fruit and vegetable “frequency card” that gives personnel a free portion of fruit or vegetables after he or she has purchased a preset number.
