Obesity-Related Work Absences Are Financial Drain for States

Annual costs estimated at $8.65 billion nationwide

Obese workers miss more work days, and those absences carry high costs at the state and national level, according to a study in the November Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

“Obesity-attributable absenteeism among American workers costs the nation an estimated $8.65 billion per year,” report Tatiana Andreyeva, Ph.D., of Yale University and colleagues. The researchers analyzed nationally representative data to assess obesity-attributable workdays missed due to health, and the associated costs on the state level.

The results showed that obese workers missed significantly more work days: an average of 1.1 to 1.7 additional absences per year, compared to normal-weight workers. There was no increase in absences for workers who were overweight but not obese.

The costs associated with obesity-related absences varied by state, mainly reflecting variations in average daily earnings. Obesity accounted for an average 9.3% of total absenteeism costs, ranging from 6.5% in the District of Columbia to 12.6% in Arkansas.

Obesity is associated with high direct costs for medical care, but the societal costs due to health-related work absences and reduced productivity could be even higher. Because many obesity-related policies are made on the state and local levels, it is important quantify the costs of obesity at these levels.

Dr. Andreyeva and colleagues conclude, “Obesity-attributable costs of absenteeism are substantial and impose a considerate financial drain on states.” Calling for further research, they add, “It is important to discuss further how these costs vary across employers, employees, and industries, and what policies prove effective in reducing productivity losses of obesity.”