| If you own a business of any size, it comes as no | | | | - The weigh-in: because weight loss can only be |
| surprise that the cost of insuring employees has | | | | gauged by the scale, a private automated weigh-in |
| skyrocketed in the last 10 years and rates have never | | | | kiosk is set up right in the office. Participants can easily |
| been higher. It is not unusual for employers to spend | | | | and conveniently track their weekly progress. |
| upward of 33% of their total annual budgets on health | | | | - The program: participants receive a tailor-made |
| insurance. To counter this trend, many companies are | | | | nutrition and exercise program that will help them reach |
| hiring corporate wellness experts to devise weight loss | | | | their goals. |
| plans for their employees. | | | | -The support: participants receive daily e-mails that |
| Poor diet and obesity cause some of the most | | | | offer support as well as education and motivation. An |
| common conditions that lead to higher health insurance | | | | email might include nutritional information, meal ideas, or |
| rates: hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, | | | | success stories. |
| and chronic heart disease. By helping employees lose | | | | - The payoff: participants receive cash for reaching |
| weight, corporate wellness experts help their | | | | their goal and maintaining a lower weight over the long |
| employers reduce health insurance costs significantly. | | | | term. |
| Here are some of the elements in the most popular | | | | -The ultimate payoff: Employees are healthier, and |
| plans. | | | | employers are happier because a leaner stronger |
| - The carrot: employees are offered cash incentives | | | | workforce leads to leaner health insurance premiums! |
| to help motivate them to reach their weight loss goals. | | | | |