What does obesity mean for employee health?

Obesity is a serious, progressive chronic condition

BY Emily Douglas 20 May 2021

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has played havoc with our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. But there’s another global pandemic devastating employee health and wellbeing - obesity.

According to the World Obesity Federation, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought the issues surrounding obesity into the public consciousness. Recent studies found that people with obesity are at higher risk of developing more severe disease and complications from COVID-19. The issue is further compounded by the fact that the current pandemic might contribute to an increase in progression of obesity as obesity management programs - which are often delivered in groups - and interventions are being severely curtailed.

The self-isolation due to COVID-19 combined with the fact that employees are feeling increasingly isolated, stressed, and burnt out has led to an increase in mental health issues. This too creates a barrier for obesity management, which in turn can have long-term impact on employee health. As employers look for ways to support their employees throughout the pandemic, providing support in obesity management should be a priority as well.

Obesity is a serious, progressive chronic condition, and while it may be a sensitive topic to broach due to the fact that it is highly stigmatized, more than ever, it is now incumbent on employers to take the necessary steps to help employees who are living with obesity.

In light of this, Novo Nordisk Canada Inc and Obesity Canada will be hosting a complimentary webinar - What does obesity mean for employee health?.

HRD spoke to Martine Carbonneau, Director, Field Patient Access at Novo Nordisk Canada Inc, who revealed how the pandemic impacted employee wellbeing and explained the responsibilities leaders have regarding workplace obesity.

“Employers need to re-think their approach in terms of how they support their employees living with obesity,” says Carbonneau. “Most employers who are providing any sort of support on obesity are focused on wellness approaches, like short-term weight loss challenges or steps challenges to increase physical activity.

“While well-intentioned, these types of wellness initiatives can do more harm to people living with obesity, as they perpetuate deeply ingrained social bias that obesity is simply a lifestyle choice and that weight can be controlled through individual behaviours such as healthy eating and physical activity. Reinforcing the ‘eat less move more’ approach can actually prevent individuals living with obesity from receiving adequate care for their condition.

“Instead of these types of wellness initiatives, employers should focus their efforts on providing access to evidence-based treatment options through benefit plans, such as medical nutritional therapy implemented and monitored by a registered dietitian, cognitive behavioural therapy, medications, and surgery. With access to these treatments, personalized care plans can then be developed to address the root causes of obesity for that individual. Only then will long-term sustained weight management be achieved.”

When it comes to approaching the issue of obesity, some employers still find the topic uncomfortable. Naturally, discussing anything regarding personal health with your workers can be tricky – however, obesity is not unlike any other chronic condition including diabetes, mental health, or cancer, and it’s a conversation that really needs to be had sooner rather than later in order to support the health of all employees.

“Similar to mental health thirty years ago, there still exists a significant amount of stigma surrounding obesity,” added Carbonneau. “All this despite the scientific and medical advances that have been made in better understanding the complex genetic, physiological, and psychosocial factors that make sustained weight loss so difficult. Many individuals still hold the belief that obesity is a lifestyle choice, which can simply be addressed by individuals putting their minds to it and trying harder. Due to these misconceptions and stereotypes, Canadians living with obesity often face significant amount of bias and discrimination, which then prevents them from receiving the proper care that they need.

“Obesity stigma in the workplace can have negative consequences for both employee health and employer outcomes. Therefore, employers have a role to play in breaking down these misconceptions by creating awareness around obesity, eliminating bias, and creating safe environments that allow people living with obesity to feel comfortable in seeking help and care.”

Essentially, Carbonneau believes it’s about removing the blame from the individual and understanding that obesity is, at its core, a chronic medical condition. Just as we now openly discuss mental health in the workplace, so too should we open up about obesity and its impact on wellbeing.

“To assist in these sensitive conversations, Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. has created the Obesity Management Toolkit for the Workplace,” revealed Carbonneau.

“It is a complimentary multimedia toolkit that helps employers understand the impact of obesity on their workforce, provides suggestions on benefit plan design to ensure adequate access to treatments, and includes materials to educate and encourage employees living with obesity to seek proper care.” Obesity Canada has also created a free online support community, ‘OC Connect’, for individuals living with obesity that employers can refer their employees to for resources and education."

To hear more on how to approach obesity in the workplace, sign up for Novo Nordisk Canada Inc and Obesity Canada’s upcoming webinar here.