VeraVia Releases Top 6 Health-Related Threats to Employee Productivity

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The fiscal impact and loss of overall productivity due to health concerns is massive: employees with chronic health issues miss a total of 450 million additional days of work each year, compared to healthy workers¹. Two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or struggle with obesity², which, in turn, has a tangible impact on corporate productivity. San Diego weight loss retreat VeraVia has released a list of ways obesity threatens employee productivity.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141014/152100

"A happy, healthy workforce should be every employer's priority. When employees are preoccupied with health-related stress, it can be a major drain on their morale and productivity," explains VeraVia co-founder and CEO, Wyatt Chapman.

Here are 6 obesity-related effects on employee health and workplace productivity:

1. Breathing Problems
Breathing problems, including sleep apnea, can disrupt sleep patterns which in turn results in employees coming to the office tired and unfocused. This leads to difficulty concentrating, which can cause employees to make mistakes that either go unchecked or must be corrected later, resulting in a loss of time and resources.

2. High blood pressure
Obesity is linked to hypertension (high blood pressure) in about a quarter of overweight individuals. In addition to arterial damage, untreated high blood pressure can have catastrophic results, such as sudden heart attack, stroke, aneurysm or liver failure. 

3. Lack of Energy
Obesity and lack of exercise can lead to depleted energy levels that cause productivity to dip throughout the day. Employees might reach for a sugary snack or caffeine-laden beverage to get a boost, but this continues the cycle and does nothing to address the underlying issue.

4. Type-2 Diabetes
In addition to the non-stop stress of having to constantly monitor one's blood sugar, those with Type-2 diabetes must be diligent about when and what they eat. Chapman explains, "When your employees' minds are preoccupied with timing their meals and snacks, they're not concentrating on the work at hand."

5. Infertility
For some women, obesity can inhibit the chances of getting pregnant, which can be a difficult issue for those looking to start families. This can lead to general stress, preoccupation, or lost time for additional fertility-related medical visits.

6. Doctor's Visits
Chronic health conditions mean that more people are out of the office and spending more time at the doctor's office for a myriad of obesity-related problems. "Doctor visits can take hours away from your employees' workdays and the stress and frustration of an unfavorable diagnosis can stress employees and pull their attention away from their work," says Chapman.

Employee health is a top priority for any business, but the compounding issues that accompany obesity can be a slow drain on how well employees perform their jobs. This can lead to a cycle of dissatisfaction for employees themselves, many of whom derive a sense of personal satisfaction from a job well done. "Encourage healthy habits in your workplace and assist employees who are looking to trim their waistlines and improve their health," says Chapman.  "When a business has healthy employees, everybody wins."

Sources:
1. http://www.gallup.com/poll/150026/unhealthy-workers-absenteeism-costs-153-billion.aspx 
2. http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/

About VeraVia
Founded in 2013 and based in the San Diego area, VeraVia is an all-inclusive luxury health and wellness retreat offering an innovative program designed to create lasting behavior and lifestyle changes. Our highly structured approach—created by leading physicians, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, and behavioral psychologists—provides comprehensive scientific, evidence-based solutions that result in true health and well-being. Please visit their website at http://veraviafit.com/

Media Contact:
Melissa Chapman
VeraVia
Phone: 800.527.1936
[email protected]

SOURCE VeraVia

Related Links

http://veraviafit.com