Work & Weight Management
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to our wellbeing, impacting not just physical health but also mental and emotional states. We spend a great deal of time at work, but many workplaces feature sedentary regimes and long hours, with associated poor eating habits. This can cause significant challenges to weight management, with resulting impacts on productivity. Indeed, poor eating habits cost UK employers around £17 billion annually.
The British Nutrition Foundation promotes an annual Healthy Eating Week, which this year runs from 10th June to 14th June. The aim to encourage everyone - including schools, workplaces and community groups - to achieve the following:
Eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetable a day
Stay hydrated
Move more
Focus on fibre
Reduce food waste
The week provides an impetus to think about managing weight in the workplace. Resources are available at the website to help employers support their staff in improving eating habits.
This blog post explores the issues associated with weight and obesity, as well as practical strategies for managing weight in the workplace.
Why does managing weight in the workplace matter?
There is increasing concern about prevalence of obesity worldwide, and the implications this has for wider health and economic outcomes. In the UK, levels of obesity have increased significantly over the past decade, with data published by Public Health England in 2020 reporting that 36% of adults are overweight, with 28% considered obese.
Data shows that employees who are obese take an average of 4 sick days per year, while those with a poor diet are 66% more likely to experience a loss in productivity. Obesity increases the risk of developing many diseases, including certain cancers. For example, obese people are 3 times more likely to develop colon cancer, 2.5 times more likely to develop high blood pressure (a risk factor for heart disease and stroke), and 5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
Obesity is a complex and challenging health issue. The condition is often stigmatised, with the misconception it can be controlled by simply eating less and exercising more. The causes of obesity are often far more complex, with research identifying a range of factors, including individual biology, socio-economic status, environment, stress and/or mental health, as well as employment. It is essential that a holistic approach to be taken towards a solution, which includes healthcare providers and employers.
Could new weight loss drugs provide a silver bullet?
While exercise and diets may prove successful for some, the multifactorial nature of obesity requires more innovative thinking. Much hope has been placed in new weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Originally developed as a medication for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide (the drug behind these brand names) has shown promise as a potent weight loss drug. A glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, it works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which increases insulin secretion, decreases glucagon production, and slows gastric emptying. These effects help regulate blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, but one a notable side effect observed during clinical trials was significant weight loss.
In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, participants who took semaglutide lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared to a 2.4% loss in the placebo group. Those who received semaglutide saw a greater improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors and a greater increase in physical functioning compared to those who received a placebo. While there were many reported side effects (including dizziness, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, and headache), there were also unexpected benefits.
The drugs have so far been supported by government. Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Obesity costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year and is the second biggest cause of cancer. This next generation of obesity drugs have the potential to help people lose significant amounts of weight, when prescribed with exercise, diet and behavioural support.”
Since weight and cardiovascular health are often intertwined, it is no surprise to see correlation between the use of semaglutide and the reduced risk of heart attack, stroke and death from cardiovascular causes, potentially by up to 20%.
Another area of interest is whether semaglutide may have a preventative effect on those at risk from dementia. Researchers at the University of Oxford are trialling the drug with people who do not have dementia but are at risk due to high levels of amyloid in the brain (the protein thought to cause Alzheimer’s).
There is also evidence that semaglutide can help with drug and alcohol addiction, working in the same way as it reduces food cravings. It has even been suggested that semaglutide may help people with PCOS by boosting rates of ovulation (an outcome that could also improve fertility) as well as affecting its impact on levels of hormones, including testosterone. This could provide a lifeline for the 8-13% of women affected by the condition, which can cause irregular periods, hormone imbalances and infertility.
What are the downsides to Ozempic and Wegovy?
Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) are only available on prescription in the UK. Current NICE guidelines say the drug should only be prescribed when strict guidelines relating to BMI are met.
Depressingly, evidence shows that when semaglutide treatment ends, regaining weight is likely. This is why medical professionals still advocate for carefully managed, holistic weight loss, addressing lifestyle, diet, and exercise - even if a weight loss drug is to be used alongside. That’s why it’s important for responsible employers to provide a support system for staff which promotes a healthier mindset. A well-considered workplace weight loss and nutrition programme should help manage weight as well as nurture a broader environment of health, safety and wellbeing.
How can employers help to manage weight in the workplace?
Employers play a key role in supporting their employees' health and wellness. Here are some practical strategies that employers can implement to support weight management in the workplace:
1. Encourage physical activity
The shift towards desk-bound roles has led to increased sedentary behaviour among employees. Prolonged sitting has been linked to various health issues, including obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
Consider incentives to encourage active commuting, like walking or cycling to work, perhaps even in exchange for additional leave or other perks. Encourage staff to take regular short breaks, and offer sit-to-stand desks where possible. You could also provide lunch time exercise classes, gym passes, and employ occupational therapists to visit and advise staff on simple exercises to do at their desks.
2. Offer healthy food options
Many workplaces offer limited healthy food options. Vending machines stocked with sugary snacks, high-calorie cafeteria meals, and frequent celebrations with unhealthy treats can derail even the most determinedly health-conscious individuals. For those working on construction sites or on the road, food options can be even more limited. The stress and time constraints of work can lead to poor eating habits, such as skipping meals or opting for fast food.
Review cafeteria options and ensure nutritionally balanced meals are available. Provide fruit, healthy snacks and water in break rooms. Consider what could be offered to those working outside cafeteria hours – make sure vending machines have healthy options, or book food trucks with fresh and tasty menus. Don’t forget meetings - ensure caterers provide nutritionally balanced options, not just pastries and biscuits!
3. Provide individual nutrition counselling
Employers should consider offering nutrition consultations to their staff. These tailored consultations may include practical tips for lowering blood sugar and cholesterol or support in achieving weight loss goals. They can help reduce obesity and the incidence of diseases like diabetes and heart disease across the company, leading to a correlating uptick in safety and productivity.
Express Medicals’ nutrition consultation service launches this summer. Led by a registered nutritionist, the service is designed to support both employers and employees in achieving their health goals and fostering a safer, healthier workplace environment. Each tailored consultation includes comprehensive assessments including measurements of BMI, blood glucose, cholesterol level and blood pressure, plus discussion of lifestyle habits and health concerns. Employees receive a detailed nutritional report and tailored action plan, plus take-home resources and practical, personalised advice to help them implement their plan.
4. Foster general wellbeing and mental health
Work-related stress can contribute to weight gain. Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that can increase appetite and lead to over-eating, particularly of high-fat and high-sugar foods. Stress can also disrupt sleep patterns - another factor linked to weight gain.
Encourage employees to take regular breaks and use all their annual leave, as well as any time owed in lieu. Flexible work hours and remote work options can help employees manage their time better. Implement comprehensive wellness programmes that include health screenings (and drug and alcohol screenings where appropriate), and mental health support. Provide resources and workshops on healthy living for staff, and ensure managers are well trained to deliver support to their teams.
Managing weight in the workplace is a multifaceted challenge that requires a combination of personal initiative and organisational support. By fostering a healthy work environment, encouraging physical activity, promoting healthy eating habits and managing stress, employees and employers can work together to achieve better health outcomes.
The benefits of these efforts extend beyond weight management, leading to improved wellbeing, increased productivity, and a safer workplace culture. By prioritising health and wellness, workplaces can become a catalyst for positive change, helping employees lead healthier, happier lives.
Sources:
New England Journal of Medicine: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
Reward and Benefits Association: Could improved nutrition save UK employers billions?: https://reba.global/resource/could-improved-nutrition-save-uk-employers-billions.html
Obesity and sickness absence: results from the CHAP study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20308262/
Brigham Young University: Study of nearly 20,000 employees paints picture of need for healthy workforce: https://news.byu.edu/news/poor-employee-health-means-slacking-job-business-losses
US National Library of Medicine: Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37952131/
US National Library of Medicine: Semaglutide and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: an
Emerging Treatment Strategy: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06222437
