Aren’t some factors that drive obesity beyond the capacity of a workplace to fix?
Yes. For instance, poor stress management is associated with overeating. The workplace can’t really solve that. But many sites offer information to help employees manage the stress of both home and work. Better stress management usually leads to weight loss.
How can employers help to encourage weight loss in the workplace?
It’s important for senior management to convince employees that they feel it is important. They must lead by example. Any effort would be doomed to failure if management adopts a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ approach.
It’s important to get across the message that even small changes are good. Even if someone can only reach one or two easy goals, it’s a good thing. For example, eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, or walking for 30 minutes. The result will produce positive health benefits. Employees need to know how important it is to keep on track. Peer support is also a very important element.
There are some things an employer could do, such as offer an on-site weight-loss program such as Weight Watchers. They could have a wellness committee organize daily or weekly lunchtime walks. These kinds of programs can be most effective if there is early intervention. It’s easier to help a person who is 20 pounds or less overweight than waiting until that person is 40 to 50 pounds overweight. Early intervention is the key.
Are on-site obesity programs only for larger companies?
It doesn’t matter if a company is small or large. The only thing you really need is an interested person. You might need someone who will be responsible for organizing a daily or weekly meeting to discuss weight issues, but it doesn’t have to be an elaborate, expensive program. In the workplace, some kind of social support is very important.
A bigger company might be able to sponsor something such as a Weight Watcher group on-site. A smaller company may not be capable of doing such a thing, but those sorts of things are not necessary for success.
To work, this has to be a partnership. It’s not always the amount of employees who participate in a program, but reaching the people who want to participate. Good health is its own reward. People who truly understand that will excite others to follow their example.
What should an employer’s goal be in dealing with obesity?
The goal is to have a workplace that supports a healthy lifestyle. That’s what you strive for. Of course, it is up to the individual to make the changes necessary for success. An employer can set an example, provide healthier choices in vending machines, establish walking trails and so on, but the rest is up to the employee. Weight loss is complicated. It can be affected by behavior, activity level and medical care. Those things are all parts of the equation. The ‘Battle of the Bulge’ needs to be a partnership between the employee and his or her workplace. It can be done!
Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.D., is the Director of Nutrition and Weight Management for UPMC Health Plan. Reach her at (412) 454-5126 or [email protected].
