25th February 2004
UK businesses must act now to counter the increasing levels of obesity among the British workforce, otherwise they risk facing increased premiums on their group income protection policies, warned leading income protector UnumProvident today.
The advice comes after UnumProvident research carried out in America revealed that the US has seen a staggering ten fold increase in the incidence of disability claims attributed to the obesity epidemic over the past decade.
US employers currently lose more than $12 billion (£6.4 billion) per year due to the consequences of obesity, which include increased healthcare utilisation, increased absenteeism, as well as elevated health and disability insurance premiums. In addition, UnumProvident's research found that the average annual obesity related disability costs for claimants is $8,250 (£4,400) per individual and that medical costs resulting from the condition are approximately 3.5 times the national annual cost of disability.
A warning only this month from the Royal College of Physicians, the Faculty of Public Health and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health show how this US epidemic could, if measures to reduce obesity are not instigated, spread to the UK.
A joint report, released by the medical experts warned the UK:
Obesity is a serious threat to our wellbeing and we need to get the health balance right, not only through taking individual responsibility but through measures that make it easier to make healthier choices about how we live.
Dr. Michael O'Donnell, Chief Medical Officer for UnumProvident, said:
In the UK, it has been estimated that obesity costs the NHS £0.5 billion per annum in in-patient care and that the cost to the wider UK economy through sickness absence is already £2billion.
With rising levels of childhood obesity and predictions that a quarter of women and a fifth of men could be obese by 2005, Britain could see a considerable increase in the number of claims due to obesity-related illness. This could result in a significant increase in premiums on both individual and group income protection policies.
The Government has already recommended that those responsible for health care, education, transport, sport, and recreations and for the labelling and marketing of food should work together to address the problem. Considering the impact that obesity has on the US employees, we feel strongly that UK businesses should act now to help their workforce to control this life-threatening condition which is caused not only by unhealthy diet but a more sedentary lifestyle. For example, today's children spend more time in front of the television or computer games than playing games or sport outside.
The US report also said that although half the patients seen by primary care physicians would benefit from weight management, such treatment is not routinely offered and many potential intervention points are not being addressed. It is estimated that approximately 300,000 US adults and 30,000 UK adults die as a consequence of morbid obesity and many more develop other chronic conditions that have been linked to obesity.
These illnesses include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Hypertension
- Some cancers
- Gall bladder
- Pulmonary dysfunction
- Arthritis
The research showed that US employees diagnosed as obese have significantly higher number of medical services for almost every category. For example, obese employees use 36.40 times more medical services due to problems with their circulatory system than non-obese employees.
Michael O'Donnell added:
These conditions are unfortunately already a fact of life for many individuals. However, the implementation of strategies by businesses could be a valuable part of an overarching Public Health approach for the prevention and treatment of obesity as large numbers of people can be reached at relatives low cost.
UnumProvident has suggested the following work-site strategies for the prevention and management of obesity:
- Work-site health promotion/disease prevention
- Employee Assistance programmes
- Improving quality health care
- Disease Management
ENDS