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Sad & Costly Facts

Obesity costs companies $12.7 billion in medical expenses annually, and billions more in productivity losses.

Cardiovascular disease and stroke are the #1 and #2 killers of Americans – and the most costly to corporations.

People are 1.5 to 2.5 times more likely to develop heart disease if they are inactive.

70% of adults get no regular physical activity.

Workers spend 164 more hours a year at work than they did 20 years ago, and many jobs are sedentary.

Baltimore’s population is particularly affected by health problems related to weight, with diabetes and other conditions jumping from 5.8% to 10.3% from 1995 to 2004.

Of the $5000 per employee the average employer spent on health care in 2001, more than 95% was spent on diagnosis and treatment, and no more than 1-2% in prevention. This reactive approach persists despite evidence that up to 50% of health care expenditures are life-style related and therefore potentially preventable. (David Anderson, PhD reporting in Wellness Councils of America's Absolute Advantage 2003)

• With every 1% increase in body mass index, an individual's annual health care costs goes up $120.
• In 1996, backaches alone cost industry more than $1.2 billion. (National Safety Council)
• U.S. healthcare costs are expected to double by 2012. Partnerships for Prevention (an organization of CEO's dedicated to health promotion advocacy, www.prevent.org)
• Employees who must take time off because of stress, anxiety or related disorders, will be off the job for about 20 days. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

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