• Nathan Kleinman, Safiya Abouzaid, Lenae Andersen, Zhixiao Wang, and Annette Powers.
• From the Human Capital Management Services Group (Dr Kleinman and Ms Andersen), Cheyenne, Wyo; and Eisai Inc (Drs Abouzaid, Wang, and Powers), Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
• J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2014 Feb 1;56(2):161-70.

ObjectiveQuantify the impact of employee overweight and obesity on costs, absence days, and self-reported productivity.MethodsEmployees' retrospective body mass index (BMI) values (kg/m(2)) from 2003 to 2011 health appraisal data defined three cohorts: BMI < 27, 27 ≤ BMI < 30, BMI ≥ 30. Medical, pharmacy, sick leave, short-term disability, long-term disability, and workers' compensation costs and absence days, and Health Productivity Questionnaire responses were compared using regression modeling, controlling for demographics, salary, and index year.ResultsAmong 39,696 (BMI < 27), 14,281 (27 ≤ BMI < 30), and 18,801 (BMI ≥ 30) eligible employees, per-employee adjusted total annual costs were $4258, $4873, and $6313, respectively. Medical, pharmacy, sick leave, workers' compensation costs and days were higher for higher-BMI cohorts (P < 0.01). Employees with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) had the most short-term disability costs and days and least productivity (P < 0.001).ConclusionsEmployees with higher BMI levels are associated with significantly more costs and absences and lower self-reported productivity.

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