General Electric's WHP program, GetFit outlines a three step method for making healthy decisions. #GetFit is promoted in all of GE's corporate branches. GE supplies their employees with healthy lifestyle suggestions and even holds exercise classes during lunch hours for employees who care to participate. Courtesy of General Electric.
Range of Classifications for Body Mass Indexes.
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You probably have heard about the severity of America’s obesity epidemic, but do you fully understand the damage it is having?
Thanks to researchers as well as “big data” we now know that the obesity epidemic has drastic implications on personal health, social interactions, psychological function, and the global economy as a whole. For those of you who aren't familiar with the definition of obesity—obesity is generally considered as having an amount of body fat that exceeds what is considered healthy. In technical terms, being obese is defined as a having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 30 (i.e., an individuals weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters). Similarly, being overweight is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 (CDC). In the United States, approximately one in every three adults, as well as one in every six children—ages 2 to 19—are classified as obese. Nationwide, 7 in 10 adults are either overweight or obese (NIDDK). This percentage of adults who are obese has nearly doubled since 1980, and tripled for that of children. It is quite obvious then why America's obesity problem is classified as such a serious public health crisis. As obesity becomes more prevalent in the United States, the implications that the public health crisis has on society are receiving increasing attention. One of the most studied effects of the obesity epidemic in the United States is its impact on the economy, manifested through health care costs and lower business productivity.
What we know from the statistics is that the indirect effects of obesity have caused a dramatic increase in health care spending, costing American businesses, the government, and the average taxpayer billions of dollars in collective monetary loss. For business corporations that include employee healthcare benefits, employing a workforce that is majority overweight costs millions of dollars in additional spending. Even those companies that do not contribute in some way to their employees’ health insurance end up paying the large price tag that obesity-induced productivity loss has instigated. So, what are companies doing to mitigate this unwanted cost of obesity? Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) programs are one of the most common practices to mitigate this issue. They're new, popular, and exciting: every company wants to take a stab at this new trend. Although, however new and 'hip' they might be, their efficacy and ethicality are still up for debate (Bing and Davison). Many businesses, economists and researchers support the radical effort WHP programs take to mitigate the economic cost of obesity. They believe that the steps taken with the programs are necessary for the world to make progress in this devastating public health crisis. Actually, one of their biggest complaints is that more people don't use these programs (Heinen and Darling). There is sound factual evidence to support claims on why WHP programs are useful, and why companies should implement them. There are many studies that support their implementation, focusing on financial and economic analyses, dietetics and fitness (Wieczner). WHP programs don't exist without criticism though. Although one can argue that there are many positive effects of these programs, the scale of a solutions positive effects aren't all that makes up its efficacy; the pros and cons as well as the risk versus reward must also be taken into account. There are many researchers and analysts who, in studying the social and psychological effects of WHP programs, advise against their current form of implementation (Powroznik). These critics include psychologists, medical doctors, anthropologists, engineers and other individuals of learned backgrounds. Many critics of WHP programs happen to be just as credible, if not more than the people who support them. So who is right in this argument? Let's learn why these proponents and critics take the stance that they do; then you can decide for yourself which side you stand on. |
Why are these programs helpful? What consequences can they have?
Click on a category to see how WHP programs affect certain aspects of society
Click on a category to see how WHP programs affect certain aspects of society
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Overweight & Obesity: Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity". 2017. Accessed 16, May 2019.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). "Overweight & Obesity Statistics" . Accessed 16, May 2019
Davison, Kristl H. and Bing, Mark N. "Obesity: Disability or Public Health Crisis?" Industrial & Organizational Psychology, vol. 6, no. 1, Mar. 2013, pp. 96-99. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/iops.12016. Accessed 16, May 2019.
Heinen, Luann., and Darling, Helen. "Addressing Obesity in the Workplace: The Role of Employers." Milbank Quarterly, vol. 87, no. 1, Mar. 2009, pp. 101-122. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/j.1468-0009.2009.00549.x. Accessed 16, May 2019.
Wieczner, Jen. “Your Company Wants to Make You Healthy.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 8 Apr. 2013. Web. Accessed 16, May 2019.
Powroznik, Karen M. "Healthism and Weight-Based Discrimination." Work & Occupations, vol. 44, no. 2, May 2017, pp. 139-170. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1177/0730888416682576. Accessed 16, May 2019.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). "Overweight & Obesity Statistics" . Accessed 16, May 2019
Davison, Kristl H. and Bing, Mark N. "Obesity: Disability or Public Health Crisis?" Industrial & Organizational Psychology, vol. 6, no. 1, Mar. 2013, pp. 96-99. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/iops.12016. Accessed 16, May 2019.
Heinen, Luann., and Darling, Helen. "Addressing Obesity in the Workplace: The Role of Employers." Milbank Quarterly, vol. 87, no. 1, Mar. 2009, pp. 101-122. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/j.1468-0009.2009.00549.x. Accessed 16, May 2019.
Wieczner, Jen. “Your Company Wants to Make You Healthy.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 8 Apr. 2013. Web. Accessed 16, May 2019.
Powroznik, Karen M. "Healthism and Weight-Based Discrimination." Work & Occupations, vol. 44, no. 2, May 2017, pp. 139-170. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1177/0730888416682576. Accessed 16, May 2019.