There's no doubt that this effort ultimately is designed to proactively take on the obesity epidemic by promoting better health and reducing long-term healthcare costs.  However, many people fear that this approach may inadvertently stigmatize or penalize overweight and obese individuals.

 

As a strong proponent of innovative interventions and solutions to strengthen the system of care for overweight and obesity, the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance is an advocate of legislation that strives to reduce the cost of disease related to obesity.  The Alliance is also strongly in favor of enlisting employers and labor into the battle against obesity.  In fact, earlier this year, the STOP Obesity Alliance commissioned an employer survey with the National Opinion Resource Center.  The results indicate that while employers and employees agree that the workplace is an appropriate place for weight-loss interventions, both favor reward systems rather than punitive measures to address the issue.

 

Alabama's State Employees' Insurance Board should be commended for addressing overweight and obesity in the workplace in a structured, programmatic manner.  It will be critical for the State of Alabama to closely monitor and report on the outcomes of this program.  What levels of success are employees experiencing?  How satisfied are employees with the program design?  What is the impact on the State's health claims?  And, is the state experiencing any residual benefits or setbacks that others could learn from?

 

The obesity epidemic is so often a source of frustration shared among employers and employees.  Programs such as the State of Alabama's will require debate, discourse and decisions on the highest levels in order to take the steps necessary to combat our national epidemic.