The study was a big one — taking input from more than 5,000 employees required to participate in wellness programs in order to get full health benefits. Here's the sort of feedback obtained by the interviewers:

67 percent of employees required to take part in an employer's wellness plan to get full health coverage are required to meet weight-related wellness goals;
but 59 percent of plans don't cover obesity treatment (fitness training, registered dietitian counseling, obesity drugs, or bariatric surgery) — although the employers who sponsor the plans usually set weight/diet/exercise goals for employees.

Of those who had to participate in a wellness plan to obtain full coverage, respondents said their employers set the following goals:

41 percent set goals for weight;
38 percent set goals for blood pressure;
36 percent set goals for exercise;
35 percent set goals for cholesterol;
25 percent set goals for diet.

Of the respondents who said they did enjoy some obesity benefits in their health coverage, here's how many said they were covered for each of the following:

22 percent had coverage for fitness training;
14 percent had coverage for dietician;
11 percent had coverage for weight loss clinic;
9 percent had coverage for weight loss surgery;
8 percent had coverage for weight loss drugs.

The Obesity Action Coalition and ConscienHealth argue that wellness plans must go above and beyond the basics in order to address the runaway obesity problem in the workplace.

Instant Insights /

Wellness plans lack obesity treatment options

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