The Ecomony and Corporate costs get hit hard!

The Hard Facts as of May 2008

• There is a $1.3 trillion total impact on the economy from seven chronic disease, pulmonary conditions and mental illness. Of this amount, $1.1 trillion is attributed to lost productivity (DeVol et.al. 2007)

• It is projected that by 2023 there will be a 42% increase in cases of the seven chronic diseases, which will cost $4.2 trillion in treatment and lost economic output (DeVol et. Al. 2007)

• Lowering the rates of obesity could produce productivity gains of $254 billion and avoid $60 billion in treatment expenditures annually(DeVol et. al. 2007)

• In 2004, the US spent 85% of every healthcare dollar on people with chronic conditions (www.silverbook.org/fact/1334)

• In 2002, the US spent more per capita ($5,267) than the next highest country, Switzerland ($3,446) and 140% above the median industrialized country ($2,193) on health care, with comparable outcomes ( Anderson et.al 2005)

• Chronic diseases are responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths in the US (PFCD 2007)

• The economic toll of chronic disease for developing and developed nations around the world is estimated at approximately 3% of gross domestic product, globally (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• The world now has more people who are overweight than people who are hungry (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• According to the World Health Organization, The US is the world’s fattest nation, with over half of adults overweight or obese. But China and India are growing fatter at a faster pace. By 2015, the number of overweight and obese adults in China and India will grow by 66% and 44% respectively (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• More than half of multinational corporations in a 2006 survey expect to introduce or expand corporate wellness program over the next 5 years (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• One third of multinational corporations are rolling out comprehensive wellness programs in multiple countries (PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007)

• Presenteeism (days employees are at work but performing at less than full capacity because they are ill due to chronic disease) is increasingly viewed as an important contributor to employee health costs. The January 2008 Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that workers with moderate to severe obesity annually cost $1800 (about $500 higher than for other workers) in presenteeism, based on an hourly wage of $21 (Gates et al. 2008)

• More than 60% of American adults don’t get the recommended amounts of physical activity and the majority of the US population has a poor diet (CDC 2002)

• In 2006, the average annual premium costs for insurance-covered workers were $4242 for an individual, including both the worker and the employee contribution, and $11, 480 for a family of four (KFF 2006)

References:

1.    Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 2002.  HHS urges community partnerships to improve physical activity. www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r020501.htm

2.    DeVol, R., et al. 2007 An unhealthy America: The economic burden of chronic disease-charting a new course to save lives and increase productivity and economic growth. Milken Institute. www.milkeninstitute.org

3.    Gates, D.M. et. al  2008: Obesity and presenteeism: The impact of body mass index on workplace productivity. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 50 (1) 39-45

4.    Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). 2006.  Data spotlight. www.kff.org/charts/012907.htm

5.    PricewaterhouseCoopers. 2007. CEO’s take on wellness as corporate strategy; rising costs of chronic diseases hurting corporate profits and productivity. www.pwc.com

We offer comprehensive corporate fitness and wellness programs that are customized per client. We cover food, exercise, mental and emotional components, habits, lifestyle, accountability and tracking for all of our clients.

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