Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 50-04, page: 2413.

Adviser: Mark Russi.

Includes supplementary digital materials.

Objective: To provide a systematic review of the literature since 2008 that addresses 1) direct and indirect costs of health problems in the workplace and 2) current workplace wellness initiatives.

Methods: 17 studies were selected for this review. The papers were summarized. Their methods, results, and conclusions were critically evaluated.

Results: Overall, results show increased health care, absenteeism, and presenteeism costs related to chronic medical problems, particularly obesity, in the workplace. Some studies show promise in improving employees' risk profiles and decreasing employer costs, but the majority of the articles had significant limitations including small sample sizes, differences between baseline groups, participation bias, and lack of cost data on the actual programs. Several papers contained serious systematic flaws, such as unacknowledged conflicts of interest and attrition rates in excess of 75%.

Conclusions: The costs of chronic medical problems, particularly obesity, in the workplace are increasing and employers need to address these costs given that they ultimately pay for most of them directly or indirectly. More research is needed that can overcome some of the limitations noted in these studies to help make more definitive conclusions regarding these programs.