Return on Investment (ROI)

Return on investment (ROI) analysis is a form of cost-benefit analysis that measures the cost of an intervention compared to the expected financial return of the intervention.^{7, 8}

Obesity is linked to many co-morbid conditions resulting in increased health care costs. With high obesity rates in the United States, these health care costs can directly affect employer profits.⁴ It is estimated that employers spend $13 billion annually on the total cost of obesity.³ Approximately 9.1% of all health care costs in the United States are related to obesity and overweight.⁹

Workplace obesity prevention and control programs can be an effective way for employers to reduce obesity.¹⁰ They can produce a direct financial return on investment (ROI) by lowering health care costs, lowering absenteeism, and increasing employee productivity.¹¹

Employers can also see other indirect benefits when they implement obesity prevention programs,¹² including increased employee morale, worker retention and improve the organization's ability to recruit new employees in a competitive market.¹³ Further, if obesity prevention programs include employee dependents, they have the potential to positively influence dependents (spouses and children) and thereby reduce an organization's health care costs.

Also in This Section

• Statistics and Research
• Case Studies
• Expert Interview

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