Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost Produ

[charm5496]

According to a study released in October by Gallup-Healthways, 86 percent of full-time American workers are overweight or suffer from chronic health conditions. These workers miss an estimated 450 million additional days of work each year compared with healthy workers, resulting in a cost of more than $153 billion in lost productivity annually.

Full-time workers who are of normal weight and do not suffer from chronic conditions average four sick days per year. Sick days rise to 13 per year for workers who are overweight and have 1-2 chronic health conditions, and to 42 sick days per year for workers who are overweight and have three or more chronic health conditions. Chronic health conditions include being overweight or obese; having ever been diagnosed with a heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, asthma, or depression; and recurring pain in the neck, back, knee, or legs.

The estimated $153 billion cost of lost productivity in the United States is more than four times the cost of lost productivity in the United Kingdom. The study attributes this difference to the percentage of healthy people in the workforce: 14 percent of full-time U.S. workers are of a normal weight and have no chronic illness, compared with 20 percent in the U.K.

The study also notes that the $153 billion figure accounts only for absenteeism, and would increase if it accounted for presenteeism. The figure would also increase if part-time employees were incorporated into the estimate of lost productivity.

[mikadonovan]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

Chronic health conditions include being overweight or obese; having ever been diagnosed with a heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, asthma, or depression; and recurring pain in the neck, back, knee, or legs.

It must not apply to everyone. I am 10 lbs overweight, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and worn out knees, but I still don't use 4 sick days a year. Granted, I take medication for the first 3 conditions which require a quarterly visit to the Doc which burns up an hour of work time, but I don't lay my ass on the couch every time I don't feel that great and miss work.

[Hemlock]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

It must not apply to everyone. I am 10 lbs overweight, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and worn out knees, but I still don't use 4 sick days a year. Granted, I take medication for the first 3 conditions which require a quarterly visit to the Doc which burns up an hour of work time, but I don't lay my ass on the couch every time I don't feel that great and miss work.

That works, when looking at your current snapshot in time. Give it a decade or two (not sure of your age) and we'll have to see what, if any, cumulative effects there are. Not specifically singling you out, just saying that certain issues take time to show the full damage.

[Hemlock]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

And, on a related note, I just picked up a box of Keebler TownHouse FlipSide Pretzel Crackers. Can't eat just one (dozen)!

[mo0651]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

At least they have a reason. What about those skinny "healthy" people at the occupy rallies?

[Ollie1981]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

We get a lot of these "studies" shoved in our face by the government over here as we have a tax funded healthcare system (the NHS)

It seems every week there's something else you shouldn't be eating or drinking, another study proving a link between say eating bacon and colon cancer (I'm sure that was a real finding)

At the end of the day it has nothing to do with a concern for your health, it all comes down to money. There was talk of restricting who can get treatment on the NHS by doctors, basically if you are overweight, smoke or drink alcohol they wanted you to pay privately for your treatment.

Now I am overweight admittedly, but I haven't smoked for three years (I was previously a heavy smoker 20-30 cigs a day) and I drink very rarely.

My answer to withdrawing treatment is:- "Can I then have a rebate on fifteen years worth of taxes that I have paid towards the NHS..... No? ....... Then shut up and do your job!"

Also this "lost productivity" in these studies assumes there is a job available for these people to do. In these times of high unemployment there are plenty of people who could be being "productive" but aren't for reasons entirely unrelated to health. Again, when governments talk about "lost productivity" the core of what they are really concerned about is the lost tax take. They are concerned that they aren't getting their "share" of someone's pay packet who's off sick.

[igi]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

Charm
how about the smokers how much lost on thath
cheers

[prntrfxr]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

I've had friends that took care of themselves, exercise regularly, never smoked, have always been the weight they're supposed to be or lower and they died of heart attacks or cancer. I've also had friends that didn't do all those things and they are still with us.

One day someone says eggs are bad for you. Later, they say it's good for you. Then, chocolate is bad, then, all of a sudden, it's good. I'm though trying to figure it out. I believe you should try to take care of yourself. Obviously, you should not smoke, because I think the odds are stacked too high against you. Getting drunk is also dangerous, but that doesn't mean you have to become a teetotaler.

It is a quality of life issue. Are you happy? Drinking, eating, etc... should bring you pleasure in life but should not be required to be happy. A person is either happy or they're not. Happiness is not dependent on other people in your life, either. If you weren't happy before you got married, you're not going to be afterward, I promise you. If you're a selfish person, or you engage in things that you know are wrong, your conscience will condemn you. That will make it difficult to be happy. You are the one who should have the control, you are the one that determines if you're a happy person, not food, drink, or other people. I've seen people "lose it" when one little thing in their life doesn't go right. I've seen people that look at everything in life with a negative viewpoint. But, I've also met people that seem to shrug off problems and look at life optimistically. These people are the happier people. It doesn't mean they don't have health issues, money problems, or family problems. It's how they deal with it. It's all about attitude. Why is it so important to be happy? Because happy people are the ones who enjoy life and usually live longer. When you find this kind of person, get to know them, and find out how they do it. Make those changes in your life to make that happen, and if you can't be happy try to be happier. :2 cents:

[Kidaver]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

Charm
how about the smokers how much lost on thath
cheers

Prolly not as much as non smokers being that smokers pay pretty high taxes on those cigarettes.....

[igi]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

Prolly not as much as non smokers being that smokers pay pretty high taxes on those cigarettes.....

good point

[charm5496]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

Also this "lost productivity" in these studies assumes there is a job available for these people to do. In these times of high unemployment there are plenty of people who could be being "productive" but aren't for reasons entirely unrelated to health. Again, when governments talk about "lost productivity" the core of what they are really concerned about is the lost tax take. They are concerned that they aren't getting their "share" of someone's pay packet who's off sick.

The study was based on people who were employed full time and when you are out of work you still get paid either from vacation, sick or PTO days and taxes are still taken out which in turn means your employer still pays taxes on you as well.

Personally I am slightly overweight, drink several nights a week, but have only missed two days of work in 16 years. I think a lot of it has to do with the persons motivation on getting to work and doing what they are being paid to do.

[Ollie1981]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

The study was based on people who were employed full time and when you are out of work you still get paid either from vacation, sick or PTO days and taxes are still taken out which in turn means your employer still pays taxes on you as well.

Personally I am slightly overweight, drink several nights a week, but have only missed two days of work in 16 years. I think a lot of it has to do with the persons motivation on getting to work and doing what they are being paid to do.

Not every employer on this side of the pond will pay you when off sick, if they don't then you have to claim statutory sick pay from the government which is on a par with job seeker's allowance. But as your employer isn't paying you for that time (and giving Her Maj's Revenue and Customs their "share") and you are probably availing yourself of NHS healthcare resources, it adds up to net loss for the tax man.

My particular employer will pay you as normal for twelve weeks, then cut you down to half pay for another twelve before you have to go on SSP (If I remember the terms of my contract).

There are rules dictating the minimum amount of annual leave your employer can let you have (that isn't supposed to include sick days) but a lot of employers will let you use those days or any lieu time owing when you are sick, particularly as they are paid at your normal rate and not the subsistence rate you get on SSP as long as you keep quiet about it.

The motivation thing over here manifests itself in the differences between job seeker's allowance and incapacity benefit. Simply put, incapacity is more money, so if you are lazy and can't be bothered with work you can get more money by trying to get that in favour of job seeker's.

Now I'm not trying to say that everyone on incapacity doesn't deserve or need it, but there has been a few notable fraudsters caught over the last few years (usually some chump telling the Social that he's virtually bed-bound in constant crippling agony and then gets caught running the London Marathon etc)

[HenryT2]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

To Quote Prntrfxr:

But, I've also met people that seem to shrug off problems and look at life optimistically. These people are the happier people. It doesn't mean they don't have health issues, money problems, or family problems. It's how they deal with it. It's all about attitude. Why is it so important to be happy? Because happy people are the ones who enjoy life and usually live longer. When you find this kind of person, get to know them, and find out how they do it. Make those changes in your life to make that happen, and if you can't be happy try to be happier. :2 cents:

AND A DOUBLE QUOTE ON THIS :

" " Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Coke in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!". " "

[charm5496]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

Prolly not as much as non smokers being that smokers pay pretty high taxes on those cigarettes.....

The government needs smokers otherwise look how much money would be lost in tax revenue at the local, state and federal levels. This is one of the few things that actually keeps all the elected officials happy.

[igi]

Re: Study Finds Ailing and Overweight Americans Cost $153 Billion Each Year in Lost P

The government needs smokers otherwise look how much money would be lost in tax revenue at the local, state and federal levels. This is one of the few things that actually keeps all the elected officials happy.

Charm i agree with you 100%