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Employees Go Lean for Green

Forget the vegetables: people lose weight to fatten their wallets, study finds

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 11, 2007 12:48 PM CDT

(Newser) – A new study shows that paying people to lose weight works, a possible boon to employers and employees beset by the high costs of obesity. Researchers separated participants, who weren’t given a specific weight loss program, into three groups—two of which would be paid either $7 or $14 for weight loss and the third would receive nothing.

Participants in the $14 group were more than five times more likely to lose 5% of their body weight. Some experts say the results may induce businesses to pay employees to slim down, especially since obesity results in decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher medical bills. Big companies spend about $285,000 yearly on obesity-related issues, USA Today reports.

KRT US NEWS STORY SLUGGED: MED-OBESITY-1 KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY JONATHAN WILSON/PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER (KRT Photos)

Participants of the TV show "Cuestion de Peso" (A matter of weight) Amadeo Gomez, left, and Marcela Pecollo joke while making exercises in Buenos Aires, Thursday, June 21, 2007 ."Cuestion de Peso" is... (Associated Press)

Participants of the TV show " Cuestion de Peso" (A matter of weight) exercise in Buenos Aires,Thursday, June 21, 2007 ."Cuestion de Peso" is a show designed for people suffering obesity which offers the... (Associated Press)

Dr. Marjorie Boeck, works with a 10-year-old patient in her Dallas office on April 10, 2002. Boeck's practice deals with children who are overweight. (KRT Photos)

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Employees Go Lean for Green

Forget the vegetables: people lose weight to fatten their wallets, study finds

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obesity • work • heart disease • weight loss • cholesterol • money • blood pressure • stroke • overweight • medical bills • employers

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American Kids' Blood Pressure Creeps Up

Obesity epidemic fallout foreshadows serious health troubles

Women's Stroke Rates Triple

Alarming rise linked to wider waistlines

Women Win One in Battle of Bulge

Obesity rates have leveled off, holding at 35% since 1999

Woman Dies After Lap-Band Procedure—5th So Far

Her outpatient center calls story 'premature'

Boosting 'Good' Cholesterol Doesn't Help, May Hurt

Test of drug niacin halted when results became clear

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Employees Go Lean for Green

Forget the vegetables: people lose weight to fatten their wallets, study finds

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

obesity • work • heart disease • weight loss • cholesterol • money • blood pressure • stroke • overweight • medical bills • employers

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

American Kids' Blood Pressure Creeps Up

Obesity epidemic fallout foreshadows serious health troubles

Women's Stroke Rates Triple

Alarming rise linked to wider waistlines

Women Win One in Battle of Bulge

Obesity rates have leveled off, holding at 35% since 1999

Woman Dies After Lap-Band Procedure—5th So Far

Her outpatient center calls story 'premature'

Boosting 'Good' Cholesterol Doesn't Help, May Hurt

Test of drug niacin halted when results became clear

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?