As a nation obesity levels have skyrocketed over the last three decades. Today, overweight and obese employees make up over two-thirds of the workforce, costing employers up to $1, 991 per person, per year, in excess medical and productivity costs. By 2020 it is projected that over 70% of Americans will be overweight and over 40% will be obese.
Despite a $40 billion weight loss industry, it is clear that present attempts to curb the obesity epidemic are unsuccessful. The “solutions,” mostly popular diets or unproven over-the-counter dietary supplements, are focused on short-term weight loss goals rather than life-long health and fall short of offering the kind of support individuals need to change their behaviors for the long term. A combination of the genetic predisposition to gain and retain weight and an unsupportive environment where too often the unhealthy choice is the easiest choice has set us up for failure.
To read more about America’s Weighty Problem, visit Free & Clear.
