Issue date: 28 December 2006
Source: People Management magazine
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Obesity is "the most serious threat to the health of the nation", and employers must do more to help their staff stay fit, the government has urged.
A report, issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), contains guidelines for employers to change their policies and incentive schemes in order to "create a culture that supports healthy eating and physical exercise".
It said: "Action will have an impact not only on the health of the workforce but also in terms of savings to industry. That is why all workplaces, particularly large organisations, should address the prevention and management of obesity."
The report encourages employers to provide benefits packages that give access to local gyms and leisure facilities, and schemes to give regular health checks to employees. It also suggests that pricing in canteens should reflect the relative health benefits of the food.
As well as being aimed at employers, the guidelines are also intended for all groups who could play a part in countering the problem – healthcare providers, parents, local authorities and building planners, who have been urged to design buildings so that stairwells are more prominent than lifts.
Peter Littlejohns, clinical and public health director at NICE, said: "Obesity's risks are as serious as smoking and urgent action is needed to tackle the problem. For the first time we have brought together all the people who can help to solve the obesity problem – not only health professionals, but also local councils, employers and schools."
Ken Snider, director of the County Durham and Tees Valley Public Health Network, added: "Tackling the obesity epidemic isn't simply about treating people who are already obese – it's also about helping people to avoid becoming overweight in the first place. That's why in the guidance we have taken a dual approach that includes both prevention and treatment."
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