Obesity and Workers Compensation CostsStudies show that people who are obese have an increased rate of disease and use their heath care services more frequently.
A study was recently done to determine the relationship between the BMI (body mass index) and the number and types of workers' compensation claims, costs of claims, and lost workdays.
There was a clear linear relationship between BMI* and rate of claims. Employees in obesity class III (BMI 40) had 11.65 claims per 100 full time employees, while recommended-weight employees had 5.80; the effect on lost workdays (183.63 vs. 14.19 lost workdays per 100 full time employees), medical claims costs ($51,091 vs. $7,503 per 100 full time employees), and indemnity claims costs ($59,178 vs. $5,396 per 100 full time employees) was even stronger.
Claims most strongly affected by BMI were related to lower extremity, wrist or hand, and back; pain or inflammation, sprain or strain, contusion or bruise; and falls or slips, lifting, and exertion. The combination of obesity and high-risk occupation was particularly detrimental.
In California in 2000, workers' compensation accounted for almost one quarter of all direct and indirect employer health care costs attributable to obesity.
Maintaining healthy weight not only is important to employees but is a high priority for their employers based on the strong effect of BMI on workers' compensation injuries.
*BMI - Body mass index is a measurement of the relative percentages of fat and muscle mass in the human body, in which weight in kilograms is divided by height in meters and the result used as an index of obesity. (American Heritage Dictionary)
If you are obese and have suffered a workers compensation claim, please consider talking to a lawyer who can help you get the benefits that you deserve. Contact Monheit Law for your free legal consultation.
