Association Between Weight Reduction and Employees’ Healthcare Cost

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the impact of ≥15% body mass index (BMI) reduction on employees' health expenditures. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed health risk assessment surveys combined with insurance claims from January 2014 to December 2019. We compared costs of employees with baseline BMI > 30 who reported ≥15% BMI reduction in subsequent health risk assessment reports with employees who lost ≤5% BMI within the same period, matching the two cohorts on demographics and costs. RESULTS: The study cohort of 197 lost an average of 23% of their BMI from baseline. The average age was 44 years with majority females (approximately 80%). Group health insurance payments were similar at baseline; at year 1, the study cohort had a 33% payment reduction compared with 10% reduction in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: A ≥15% BMI reduction was associated with a substantial medical cost savings.