Workers' compensation insurance claims are more frequent and more expensive for employees who are obese according to a recent Duke University study*. Nearly twice as many claims were filed by the heaviest workers. Most of the claims are for falls, slips, and injuries to the joints. Compared to the cost of the medical claims for those workers with normal BMI, the severely obese cost almost 7 times more, and the moderately obese over 3 times more. The number of work days lost by the very obese is 13 times higher.

Companies have more incentive that ever to foster healthy lifestyles for their employees such as healthy options in the cafeteria and in-house gyms. It makes financial sense.

* Archives of Internal Medicine, April 23, 2007; Ostbye, T.