The impact of obesity needs to be recog-
nized in the workplace and education is
the greatest defence against obesity. “The
best way to treat it is to understand it,” Dr.
Wharton said.
Fuchs, alongside Dana Hurst, director of
wellness solutions at People Corporation,
strongly encourages employers to launch
campaigns that provide education and
awareness about obesity as a medical con-
dition. “There is so much more to this con-
dition then we previously thought,” Fuchs
said. Managers, in particular, need to un-
derstand this new research. “Until people
understand the biology behind this, the
conversations will not go very far,” Fuchs
added.
Obesity-related treatments tend to fall
under the lifestyle category of benefits
packages. Consequently, there are many
exclusions. Both Dr. Wharton and Fuchs
specifically stressed the importance of
employees having access to pharmaco-
therapy to combat obesity. “Lifestyle im-
plies a level of control that we now know
does not exist,” Fuchs said, adding that
coverage for these medications may need
to fall outside this category in order to suc-
cessfully combat obesity.
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business elite canada
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JUNE 2016
