| There's no doubt that skyrocketing health care costs | | | | do employees pay less out of pocket costs, so does |
| are crippling America's businesses. With increases of | | | | the company. When people are lighter, they simply |
| 10-20 percent yearly, such rates simply cannot be | | | | don't need to visit the drugstore as much. |
| sustained over the long term. Even if the | | | | --Better overall office mood: When employees lose |
| Congressional health care reform passes, it will be | | | | weight, they feel more self-confident and are happier in |
| several years before it is fully implemented, and even | | | | their own skin. This translates into a lighter (pun |
| then the repercussions for business owners and its | | | | intended) feeling in the office each and every day, |
| effect on total health care costs are still unclear. | | | | reduced conflicts, and more pleasant inter-employee |
| Starting an employee weight loss program saves | | | | and public interactions. |
| money by reducing your overall health care cost and | | | | The best kinds of company weight loss programs are |
| monthly premiums: here are some of the other | | | | those that are super-organized and managed from the |
| benefits. | | | | outside. These programs may offer financial and other |
| --Reduced absenteeism: Lighter employers are | | | | incentives to employees to encourage large-scale |
| healthier employees and will simply not get sick as | | | | participation. If successful, the cost of implementing a |
| often. | | | | weight loss program will be more than offset by the |
| --Increased productivity: When employees feel better | | | | savings in overall health care spending by the |
| and are not absent as often, overall productivity | | | | company. You can lighten up your whole office: it just |
| naturally goes up! | | | | takes the willingness to be proactive. |
| --Employees spend less on prescription drugs: Not only | | | | |