"Employers are already 'paying for' health related issues. On average, a company can expect to pay an estimated $10,000 per year for such things as: medical benefits, short and long term disability, worker's compensation, disease management, absence management, staff recruiting and training, and human resources," Steven Aldana, PhD.

The cost of obesity-related health problems in employers in 2003 was $13.2 billion in total cost and 39 million workdays.

Worksite Wellness: The education and activities that a worksite may do to promote healthy lifestyles to employees and their families. Worksite wellness may include events, programs, and environmental policy change.

Worksite wellness programming can: decrease health care costs, increase productivity, and improve morale.

Out of 16 waking hours, at least 8 are spent at work.

The Bottom Line:
Unhealthy Behaviors→Health Risks→Chronic Disease→Health Care Costs

The overall risk of poor diet, physical inactivity, and smoking does not just double when you have multiple risk factors...it increases exponentially.

Heart disease can start in childhood and may be evident at 5-8 years of age--this is your future workforce!

83% of Americans don't have a healthy diet, and 67% don't get enough exercise to enjoy the benefits.

Cigarette and tobacco smoke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes are the six major independent risk factors for coronary heart disease that you can modify or control.