Obesity and Workers Comp. Claims

Duke Hospital conducted a study on obesity and Workers' Comp. Results:

There was a clear linear relationship between BMI (Body Mass Index) and rate of claims
Employees in obesity class III (BMI40) had 11.65 claims per 100 FTEs, while recommended weight employees had 5.80

The effect on lost workdays (183.63 vs 14.19 lost workdays per 100 FTEs)

Medical claims costs ($51,091 vs $7,503 per 100 FTEs)

Indemnity claims costs ($59,178 vs $5,396 per 100 FTEs) was even stronger The claims most strongly affected by BMI were related to the following:

Lower extremity, wrist or hand, and back (body part affected)

Pain or inflammation, sprain or strain, and contusion or bruise (nature of the illness or injury)

Falls or slips, lifting, and exertion (cause of the illness or injury) The combination of obesity and high risk occupation was particularly detrimental.

This information should really cause you to consider an obesity program in your business.