Workplace Wellness Programs: Focus on Nutrition Programs

Benefits of Nutrition Programs 

Nutrition directly impacts nearly every aspect of physical and mental health. A healthy diet can help protect against such conditions as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, certain cancers and depression. Obesity, which is among the most common conditions linked to diet, affects a record number of Americans. 

The American Journal of Health Promotion estimates the cost of obesity to United States business to exceed $12.5 billion in health care, sick leave, and life and disability insurance. Further, one study reports that obesity raises healthcare costs by 36 percent and medication costs by 77 percent. To offset the health risks of obesity and poor diet, many businesses have committed to helping employees ensure proper nutrition and undertake weight control initiatives. 

Popular nutrition initiatives: 

      Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

      1.    Offer healthy eating reminders and prompts to employees via multiple means (i.e. e-mail, posters, payroll stuffers, etc.).

      2.    Offer appealing, low-cost fruits and vegetables in vending machines and in the cafeteria.

      3.    Offer cookbooks, food preparation, and cooking classes for employees’ families.

      4.    Ensure onsite cafeterias follow healthy cooking practices and set nutritional standards for foods served that align with the United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

      5.    Offer healthy foods at meetings, conferences, and catered events.

      6.    Use point-of-decision prompts as a marketing technique to promote healthier choices.

      7.    Offer healthy cooking demonstrations that teach skills (i.e. fruit and vegetable selection and preparation).

      8.    Offer taste-testing opportunities at the worksite.

      9.    Offer worker-led campaigns, demonstrations or programs.

      10.   Offer local fruits and vegetables at the worksite (i.e. worksite farmer’s market or community-supported agriculture drop-off point).

      11.   Use competitive pricing (price non-nutritious foods in vending machines and cafeterias at higher prices).

      12.   Offer protected time and dedicated space away from the work area for breaks and lunch.

      13.   Make kitchen equipment available to employees.

      14.   Offer an opportunity for onsite gardening if possible. 

      Sweetened Beverage Consumption

      1.    Make water available throughout the day.

      2.    Offer appealing, low-cost healthful drink options in vending machines and the cafeteria.

      3.    Modify worksite vending contracts to increase the number of healthy options. 

      4.    Price non-nutritious beverages at a higher cost.

      5.    Use point-of-decision prompts to promote healthier choices. 

      Portion Control

      1.    Label foods to show serving size and/or nutritional content.

      2.    Offer food models, food scales for weighing and pictures to help employees assess portion size.

      3.    Offer appropriate portion sizes at meetings, worksite events and in the cafeteria. 

Nutrition initiatives in action 

While many businesses address weight management through fitness initiatives, businesses are increasingly focusing on nutrition through separate programming. Recognizing the productivity boost and lowered medical expenditures that come with maintaining a healthy weight, many businesses may help pay for obesity treatments for employees. For example, to enhance the health of dangerously obese employees, drug maker Wyeth reportedly pays for stomach-shrinking surgeries that carry price tags of up to $40,000. 

A 2003 Society of Human Resource Management study shows that 24 percent of businesses offer weight loss initiatives. In Ohio, Honda offers an onsite, registered dietitian who provides individual or group consultations on weight management. Body fat assessment and body mass index (BMI) measurements are available to employees at any time. 

At Grange Insurance’s Columbus headquarters, the cafeteria chef analyzes meals and provides employees basic nutrition information, including Weight Watchers points. Many businesses partner with the American Cancer Society to offer nutrition information through the ”5-ADay” program, which provides businesses free signage and educational materials about the importance of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The program also offers a fruit and vegetable ”frequency card” that gives employees a free portion of fruit or vegetables after he or she has purchased a preset number.