Create the environment where making healthy choices is the easy choices
In today’s fast paced work environment, obesity and its related health concerns have become significant challenges affecting employee wellbeing, productivity, organizational competitiveness, and healthcare costs. According to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), addressing lifestyle factors is key to preventing, treating, and reversing obesity. But what if the workplace could be transformed into a powerful tool for health improvement, making it easier for employees to adopt healthier habits? Inspired by the principles of Blue Zones, where people live longer, healthier lives, we can create environments that naturally encourage wellbeing by making the healthy choice the easy choice!
By focusing on six key areas - nutrition, physical activity, stress management, restorative sleep, avoidance of risky substances, and social connection- diverse organizations can foster a culture where health is seamlessly integrated into daily routines. Thoughtfully crafted workplace policies can play a pivotal role in making this possible. For example, policies that support healthy meal options in cafeterias, offer flexible work hours to accommodate exercise or stress management activities or provide sleep friendly environments can encourage employees to take proactive steps for their health.
Comprehensive work policies that promote smoke free environments and limits access to sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks help reduce risky behaviors. Additionally, policies that prioritize mental health by offering Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and stress management workshops contribute to overall well being. These policies not only foster healthier behaviors but result in both measurable Return on Investment (ROI) through reduced healthcare expenses and a positive Return on Value (ROV) by reducing absenteeism and improving productivity, employee engagement, retention, and morale. Download
Moreover, by supporting employees who may require medical interventions such as pharmacotherapy like GLP-RA and GIP-RA like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide or weight loss surgeries like gastric banding or sleeve gastrectomy, workplace policies can ensure a comprehensive approach to health management.
Ultimately, by offering a comprehensive approach to addressing obesity and creating workplace policies that naturally promote health while offering medical support when necessary ensures that the workplace becomes a catalyst for well-being, benefiting both employees and organizations in the long run.
Encourage healthy eating behaviors that promote weight management and overall health by using Food As Medicine, a concept that emphasizes the therapeutic role of nutrition in preventing and managing diseases including obesity. This emerging concept is now endorsed by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM),the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the US Department of Health andHuman Services (HHS)
With the significant amount of time people spend at work, a growing body of research is exploring the effectiveness of workplace wellness programs in encouraging physical activity. In an era of increasing healthcare costs, integrating physical activity into an employee wellness program offers a highly effective, low cost solution for improving health outcomes. Decades of research show that regular physical activity benefits the individual at any body weight and is critical for long term weight management. In fact, exercise has been shown to be as effective as prescription medication in managing many chronic diseases including obesity. Just as weight and blood pressure are monitored regularly in healthcare settings, physical activity should also be prioritized within the workplace, helping employees achieve better health and reduced healthcare costs. Fundamentally, increase physical activity throughout the workday to support weight loss and overall health.
Stress, including work related stress, triggers the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis leading to the release of cortisol, which is known to increase appetite and promotes fat storage, particularly around the abdomen. This abdominal fat, called adiposity, produces inflammatory chemicals that over time can cause insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and obesity. Stress can also lead to unhealthy behaviors such as emotional eating, reduced physical activity, poor sleep, further driving weight gain. Additionally, chronic, poorly controlled stress is linked to the development of conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, which are closely tied to obesity creating a vicious cycle where stress drives weight gain and obesity exacerbates chronic disease risks. Not only is stress harmful to our physical health but it is detrimental to mental health causing depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and substance use disorders. The negative physical and mental health aspects of stress can affect employees through job performance, productivity, work engagement, and communication. Organizations can implement various strategies to help employees mitigate stress and its impacts on obesity and chronic diseases.
Restorative sleep is important for regulating hormones like cortisol (stress hormone) and insulin (which controls blood sugar). Chronic sleep deprivation increases cortisol levels and disrupts insulin sensitivity leading to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction which can cause obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and heightens mental health issues like stress, anxiety and depression. Insufficient sleep triggers cravings for high calorie, sugary foods, and promotes fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area. Sleep directly influences cognitive function, memory, decision making, and productivity. Research has shown that sleep deprived employees tend to have reduced focus, lower energy, impaired judgment all of which can lead to lack of engagement and reduced productivity. In the workplace, addressing sleep health improves not only individual well being but also organizational efficiency.
Substance use including tobacco alcohol, and certain medications can significantly impact weight and overall health. Tobacco use and cigarette smoking are linked to metabolic issues and can increase the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancers. In fact, smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and causes many diseases. Alcohol, often overlooked, adds empty calories, disrupts liver function and impairs decision making around diet contributing to weight gain. Other substances such as certain prescription medications like antidepressants, psychotropic medications, and certain blood pressure medications can lead to unintended weight gain. Reducing risky substance use through education and support helps employees make healthier choices that positively affect their metabolic health, mental well being, and weight management. Addressing these factors not only mitigates the direct negative impacts but also contributes to creating a healthier work environment where employees are empowered and better equipped to maintain healthy lifestyles.
Social connections play a crucial role in influencing health behaviors and outcomes. According to Blue Zones research, individuals embedded in strong social networks tend to live healthier and longer lives. These connections offer emotional support, accountability, and promote healthy behaviors all of which reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing. Fundamentally, employers can cultivate a health promoting environment by strengthening social connections.
