Can fat Britain work?
NEW STUDY REVEALS OVER 10 MILLION UK MALE WORKERS ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE[1]
Leading wellbeing expert suggests that poor health could put jobs at risk – and add to cost pressures for the NHS
www.waterwellpoint.co.uk
Download the full PDF version here
Download the full PDF version here
Leading wellbeing expert, Water Wellpoint, has released definitive new data on the state of health of UK workers. The study represents one of the largest surveys[2] of the health of the working age population in the UK (8,778 employees) and reveals a number of health issues that are likely to give cause for concern both for UK workers and their employers, as well as for the coalition Government as it tries to tackle public sector costs, including those in the NHS.
The Water Wellpoint Workers Health Check Report, based on health checks voluntarily undertaken by employees around the UK during 2009, identifies that nearly a third of workers had more than one vital sign reading higher than recommended. But most worrying is the analysis of the data[3] that suggests that more than 10 million male workers are overweight or obese. As Rory Murphy from Water Wellpoint explains, this has a multitude of implications for the UK economy:
“First and foremost, of course, is the concern that individuals’ health and wellbeing is under pressure simply because they are overweight. But this then highlights the potential costs to employers of sickness absence, because there is clear medical evidence that being overweight can cause health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, etc which can lead to a greater likelihood of people being off work sick. And we have a concern that workers who have a pattern of poor attendance may find themselves more vulnerable to redundancy whilst employers continue to focus on cost savings.
“The impact on the NHS of healthcare for this significant proportion of the working population is also a considerable concern, especially at a time when there is so much pressure on public sector costs”, continued Rory Murphy.
The Water Wellpoint UK Workers Health Check Report reveals that the health of the UK’s male working population is particularly poor with the tests showing that nearly a third have high blood pressure and two thirds are overweight or obese, according to their BMI. However female workers don’t fare much better. 44% of women tested on the Water Wellpoint Kiosk had a higher BMI than recommended – this reinforces data[4] showing that about half of the female working age population (56%) were overweight or obese. And about one in five women workers had high blood pressure.
Taking care of their health is obviously a challenge for many workers, and the Water Wellpoint Health Checks reinforce that even the basics are not getting attention, such as regularly drinking fluids to stay hydrated. 59% of male tests showed a fluid intake lower than recommended guidelines[5]. Women were just slightly better, with 49% showing a fluid intake lower than recommended.
“This data provides a really important insight into the health of the working population in the UK”
continued Rory Murphy. “Perhaps not surprisingly, the picture is not particularly healthy. We believe this is a real issue, both for employers who are trying to tackle sickness absence levels and maintain productivity, and for the coalition Government which has made it clear it will cut costs across the welfare system and the NHS. More workers off sick is going to make that objective hard to achieve.
“However, the employers with whom we’ve been working, providing health checks on the Water Wellpoint kiosk as well as providing other health and wellbeing support for their employees, are seeing a real benefit in tackling the health issues that seem to be affecting so many of the working population. Indeed, because some people find the prospect of attending formal clinics daunting, the companies with whom we are working believe using a non-confrontational health check, like the Water Wellpoint Kiosk, provides a more effective solution.
“Most people don’t know the key facts and figures relating to their own health, leaving them at risk of developing long-term health issues that could be avoided. However, employers can play a key role in helping people take an active role in their health and wellbeing.
“Tackling blood pressure in the workplace is one of the most simple and cost effective means of cardiovascular disease prevention as it can alert the individual to any potential problems – or indeed identify a healthy blood pressure which can be supported and maintained by occupational health professionals in the workplace. Tackling weight issues is, of course, another area that employers can help employees to address with programmes that can become integral to health and wellbeing in the workplace.”
The Water Wellpoint is a unique interactive health kiosk that allows individuals to self-test themselves at work using six key indicators of their general health. The vital signs include weight, hydration quota, body mass index, body fat content, heart rate and blood pressure and can be measured simply and accurately in around five minutes.
A print-out of results is provided, showing how an individual compares with accepted medical standards, giving users a quick and easy early-warning system for potential problems, as well as a way to highlight areas they can work on to improve their personal health and wellbeing. The kiosks can be rented for individual events or on a longer term lease, allowing workers to take control of their own health and often reaching the particular part of the population that rarely visits the GP – young males.
“The health kiosk can easily be taken into businesses to help them engage staff and encourage them to play an active role in their wellbeing” concluded Rory Murphy. “During 2009 we checked nearly 9,000 people in a variety of workplaces around the UK and we expect to exceed that number in 2010. Through health awareness programmes, staff can easily check their ‘vital signs’, helping them make healthier choices and improve their wellbeing.”
END
September 2010
Rory Murphy, external affairs spokesperson for leading wellbeing business, Water Wellpoint and a former Trade Union General Secretary, is available for comment on this issue. Please contact the Water Wellpoint Press Office on 020 8977 9132.
[1] 59% of Water Wellpoint Employee Health Checks showed a higher BMI (Body Mass Index) than recommended – a comparable average shows that 66% of the male working age population were overweight or obese according to their BMI (National Diet & Nutrition Survey 2008/9)
[2] 8,776 Water Wellpoint Health Checks were undertaken in 2009
[3] The data was correlated against the Office of National Statistics figures for the working population of the UK. This shows there at (date 2010) there were 29.16 million workers in the UK. There were 15.61 million male workers and 13.55 million female workers
[4] National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008-9
[5] As recommended by the European Food Safety Agency
