A high percentage of drug costs are attrib-
utable to medications that treat obesity-
related illnesses like high blood pressure
and depression, but these costs can be re-
duced by allotting special attention to obe-
sity. The economic value of incorporating
obesity treatment into benefits coverage
plans can result in a potential decrease in
overall drug costs.
“Access [to medication] alone isn’t enough.
The fact that the drug may be covered
isn’t sufficient,” Fuchs said. “Effort must
be made to create an environment where
employees feel comfortable coming for-
ward to address this issue.” In her expe-
rience, employees with questions about
coverage don’t usually speak up. Addition-
ally, employers need to encourage healthy
eating and understand the impact of their
day-to-day decisions, like the food served
at meetings.
Since personal choices do influence obe-
sity, Fuchs believes it is important to in-
corporate access to certified dietitians and
life coaches in order to prevent relapse.
Many of these services are already avail-
able through employee benefits programs,
but they need to be leveraged to specifi-
“There’s not one treatment that applies to all people living with obesity. There
are multiple treatments and as a result, a multidisciplinary team is necessary.”
Dr. Sean Wharton, medical director
JUNE 2016
H
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