Employers join battle against obesity (fat people, the new smokers)

The Cincinnati Square ^ | 12/29/2003 | Chris Wadsworth

[Luis Gonzalez]

Joyce Reynolds has waged a seesaw battle with her weight her entire life.

"I've gone through bouts of depression," said Reynolds, 47.

"Even though you think you've reached a spot where you're happy, you're really not. It's like you fool yourself."

Her employer, the Lee County (Fla.) Electric Cooperative, is trying to help.

It recently started offering Weight Watchers classes in the office. Some of the 30-plus participants got a break on the usual enrollment fee.

Others are spreading out the payments through payroll deductions.

Five weeks into the program, Reynolds has lost 6 pounds and has seen her blood pressure drop from 160/100 to 130/80.

More and more, companies are searching for similar success. They're looking for ways to encourage better health among their employees - out of good will and because it's smart business.

Wellness Councils of America, a nonprofit organization that promotes workplace wellness programs, reports health care expenses are the single biggest portion of the U.S. economy - $1.4 trillion spent in 2002. Of that amount, companies and corporations picked up $444 billion of the tab.

The future doesn't look any better with health care costs expected to pass the $2 trillion mark by 2007, industry figures report.

That has left employers in a quandary. How do they persuade workers to get healthy, not only for themselves but for the company's bottom line?

"I think you're seeing American businesses at the crossroads," said David Hunnicutt, president of Welcoa, based in Omaha, Neb.

He says surveys show 88 percent of U.S. businesses now offer some sort of health or fitness promotion.

However, most are merely a poster hanging in a lunchroom or a brochure included with a paycheck. When you look at the number of workplaces that offer real, organized health and fitness programs on the job, it plummets to just 10 percent of U.S. companies.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Rush called this one a while back.

[TontoKowalski]

When you look at the number of workplaces that offer real, organized health and fitness programs on the job, it plummets to just 10 percent of U.S. companies.

Now is the time to start, or invest in, companies that provide health and fitness services. The time isn't that far away that these types of on-the-job programs will become a worker's "right."

[OpusatFR]

What is frightening is the idea that obesity is taking on a new definition. Being just overweight is becoming obese.

My NYC politician relatives were cawing and fawning over some distaff relatives they met over the holidays. "Oh, the girls were so lovely, they were a size one."

ONE? Size one?

I'm an eight and I guess that qualifies as morbidly obese.

[Just another Joe]

I'm an eight and I guess that qualifies as morbidly obese.

You're just big boned. ;^)

[Just another Joe]

Puff for the "New Smokers".

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Puff for the "New Smokers".

(snicker) A tax on high sugar content products can't be far behind. (pun intended) And then the gov can make it mandatory that all businesses in the U.S. must provide some kind of fitness program for their employees...sending the cost to do business in the U.S. to levels even more uncompetitive with the rest of the world! WOO! HOO!

[Conspiracy Guy]

I'll think about this while I smoke and eat a bag of Dorritos.

[Just another Joe]

I'll think about this while I smoke and eat a bag of Dorritos.

You do realize that as a protest you should be eating HO HOs?

[Conspiracy Guy]

I stay away from Ho's. It would make Laura Earl mad as heck if I hung around with Ho's.

[Luis Gonzalez]

BIG BONED GAL

she was a big boned gal
from Southern Alberta
you just couldn't call her small
and you can bet every Saturday night
she'd be headed for the legion hall
put her blue dress on
and she'd curl her hair
oh, she'd been waiting all week
with a bounce in her step
and a wiggle in her walk
she'd be swinging down the street
you could tell she was ready
by the look in her eyes
as she slipped in through the crowd
she walked with grace
as the entered the place
big boned girl was proud
now people would come from miles around
and gather there to dance
but when the big boned gal
came a-shuffling in
she'd halt them in a trance
now you could tell she was ready
by the look in her eye
she slipped in through the crowd
she walked with grace
as she entered the place
the big boned girl was proud
hey
hey, big boned gal
ain't no doubt she's a natural
shakin and a'snakin
and a'breakin up across the floor
hey
hey
big boned gal
ain't no doubt she's a natural
reelin and a'rockin
she's yelling out for more

[Just another Joe]

I stay away from Ho's. It would make Laura Earl mad as heck if I hung around with Ho's.

There are alternatives.
Hostess cupcakes, Twinkys, Snowballs (especially the pink kind), etc.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Just started on a dozen Krispy Kremes.

[Gabz]

I'm an eight and I guess that qualifies as morbidly obese.

Think how I feel - I wear a 10 or 12 :(

[bk1000]

"What is frightening is the idea that obesity is taking on a new definition."

It will be a 'disease'. There will be fund raisers and poster children. Liberals will want suggestive pictures of food on menues at Waffle House & Denny's banned. People will be sued, fired, and sent to sensetivity classes for exibiting 'endomorphism'. Thin people will be the 'evil white males' of the comming porcine era.

Heaven forbid anybody do a few situps now and then, for to do so would indicate a modicum of responsibility.

[tubebender]

I went out for breakfast Sunday while my wife went shipping. There were only 5 or 6 really over weight eaters out of 50 or so and 2 of them were at the table next to me and both of these women had sugared Coke with their meals. I have a lovely niece who is over weight and she must drink at least 6 cokes a day along with lots of carbs...

[goodnesswins]

Many of the overweight do NOT eat breakfast....and drink lots of soda's with their junk food (I've got family like that.)

[goodnesswins]

Oops...updating tagline...

[Luis Gonzalez]

"There will be fund raisers and poster children."

[The Great RJ]

Now that the liberal nannies have almost completed their jihad against smokers the next likely target is the obese. Look for taxes on fast food, high calorie foods and fats. Better sell your Krispy Kreme stock while there's still time.