Need help with bullet points for HR Department

Help. I have a chance to make a pitch to our HR director encouraging our company to buy the Aetna rider covering weightloss surgery and programs. But what I need is some help with some bullet point such as: Why should an employer offer this as a benefit for employees Justification that morbid obesity is an illness/condition Statistics backing the number of people in the US that suffer from obesity that might extrapolate into representing a significant number of our employees, etc. W've got nearly 300 employees, and I hazard to guess that at least a quarter of them would benefit from this in an age of shrinking benefits. I want to try to draft something for them by Monday. Thanks for the help, and I'll be checking back regularly. ted

Obesity has been shown to directly increase health care costs. In an article in the March 9, 1998, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine 17,118 members of the Kaiser Permenente Medical Care Program were studied to determine the association between body fatness and health care costs. The results showed that patients with BMI's greater than 30 had a 2.4 times greater risk for increased inpatient and outpatient costs than patients with BMI's under 30. Americans spend an additional $33 billion dollars annually on weight-reduction products and services, including diet foods, products, and programs. Most of these expenditures are not effective. Hope this helps, Erika L

Thanks. That's exactly the type of stuff I am looking for. Please keep it coming. I'll be drafting my letter this weekend -- ahead of Ivan's arrival, hopefully.

Morbid obesity brings with it an increased risk for a shorter life expectancy. For individuals whose weight exceeds twice their ideal body weight (that's about 2-6% of the U.S. population), the risk of an early death is doubled compared to non-obese individuals. The risk of death from diabetes or heart attack is five to seven times greater. Even beyond the issue of obesity-related health conditions, weight gain alone can lead to a condition known as "end-stage" obesity where, for the most part, no treatment options are available. Yet an early death is not the only potential consequence. Social, psychological and economic effects of morbid obesity, however unfair, are real and can be especially devastating. Obesity-related health conditions are health risks that, whether alone or in combination, can significantly reduce your life expectancy. A partial list of some of the more common obesity related health conditions follows. Your doctor can provide you with a more detailed and complete list: Type 2 Diabetes. Obese individuals develop a resistance to insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Over time, the resulting high blood sugar can cause serious damage to the body. High blood pressure/Heart disease. Excess body weight strains the ability of the heart to function properly. The resulting hypertension (high blood pressure) can result in strokes, as well as inflict significant heart and kidney damage. Osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints. The additional weight placed on joints, particularly knees and hips, results in rapid wear and tear, along with pain caused by inflammation. Similarly, bones and muscles of the back are constantly strained, resulting in disk problems, pain and decreased mobility. Sleep apnea/Respiratory problems. Fat deposits in the tongue and neck can cause intermittent obstruction of the air passage. Because the obstruction is increased when sleeping on your back, you may find yourself waking frequently to reposition yourself. The resulting loss of sleep often results in daytime drowsiness and headaches. Gastroesophageal reflux/Heartburn. Acid belongs in the stomach and seldom causes any problem when it stays there. When acid escapes into the esophagus through a weak or overloaded valve at the top of the stomach, the result is called gastroesophageal reflux, and "heartburn" and acid indigestion are common symptoms. Approximately 10-15% of patients with even mild sporadic symptoms of heartburn will develop a condition called Barrett's esophagus, which is a pre-malignant change in the lining membrane of the esophagus, a cause of esophageal cancer. Depression. Seriously overweight persons face constant challenges to their emotions: repeated failure with dieting, disapproval from family and friends, sneers and remarks from strangers. They often experience discrimination at work, cannot fit comfortably in theatre seats, or ride in a bus or plane. Infertility. The inability or diminished ability to produce offspring. Urinary stress incontinence. A large, heavy abdomen and relaxation of the pelvic muscles, especially associated with the effects of childbirth, may cause the valve on the urinary bladder to be weakened, leading to leakage of urine with coughing, sneezing, or laughing. Menstrual irregularities. Morbidly obese individuals often experience disruptions of the menstrual cycle, including interruption of the menstrual cycle, abnormal menstrual flow and increased pain associated with the menstrual cycle.

Boy Erika when you do your homework - you do your homework. Great job stating your point.

Ted, I think that there was someone on the Over 50 Forum who was gathering info on this. Why don't you give a shout out to the Over 50"s and see what you can find out from them...

Ted, You will find some great articles on the AOA website. There is a link to them on obesitylawyers dot com website. I believe there is an article there about how sick time is reduced for employees after the procedure (except the first year post-op). Try that site. Great information. Good luck! Beth