A new study has revealed two more reasons to encourage obese employees to join weight loss programs.

The reasons: Obesity can increase the risk of injury and tends to complicate recovery, according to a recently released study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Researchers found:

• Obesity increases the risk of falls because it negatively affects balance and posture
• Obese people are more likely to suffer from breathing-related sleep disorders like sleep apnea
• Odds of sustaining an injury can be as much as twice as high for obese workers compared to non-obese individuals
• Repetitive motions (kneeling, squatting and typing) compound injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis
• Obesity increases the risk of heat-related illnesses, and
• The rate at which workers’ comp claims are filed is twice as high for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater compared to non-obese individuals.

This study shows that running a wellness program doesn’t just help reduce medical insurance premiums, it can also help reduce workers’ comp premiums and other costs associated with employee injuries (like lost productivity, etc.).

Tags: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, obesity, wellness, workers comp