We talk a lot about our aging workforce. To cite Harvard Business Review: "By 2050, over one-fifth of the U.S. population will be 65 or older, up from the current figure of one-seventh. The number of centenarians worldwide will double by 2023 and double again by 2035. Projections suggest life expectancy will surpass 100 in some industrialized countries by the second half of this century — roughly triple the lifespan that prevailed worldwide throughout most of human history."
We also tend to discuss obesity quite a bit, this generation's smoking. The latest Centers for Disease Control stats show more than a third of U.S. adults — nearly 36 percent — are obese. And in 2008, according to the CDC, obesity-related medical costs hovered around $147 billion; in fact, typical medical expenses for obese people were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.
But what we rarely touch on is the deadly — and costly — combination of the two. It's something employers need to be aware of, now more than ever. Again, the CDC reports that "more than a quarter (27.1 percent) of adults aged 50-64 are sedentary, defined as not doing any physical activity outside of work for 30 days."
Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO, part of your ALM digital membership.
Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Critical BenefitsPRO information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
- Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events
- Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
Already have an account? Sign In
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
