Workplace efforts geared toward healthy eating can lead to more than healthcare cost savings for employers. Better dietary habits also help employees reduce stress, balance hormones and boost engagement and productivity.
The number of obese adults in the U.S. is steadily increasing, jumping more than 10% between 1999 and 2020, according to the Center for Disease Control. And the associated costs that come with weight-related chronic illness, higher insurance premiums and medications are taking a massive toll: A report from data and analytics company GlobalData found the cost of excess weight to employers and employees was $425.5 billion in 2023.
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Poor nutrition can also affect employees in ways other than weight. Research shows an unhealthy diet can lead to a 20% reduction in efficiency, and bad eating habits are linked to higher rates of absenteeism, sickness and stress, as well as lower levels of productivity. A study by North Carolina State University revealed that unhealthy eating choices in the evening — too much junk food, overeating at dinner, excess late-night snacks, for example — led to people suffering physically and emotionally the following day at work.
“Understanding how food influences the body is crucial for maintaining overall health,” says Wesleigh Roeca, workplace well-being director at healthy eating platform Lifesum. “The impacts on hormonal balance, energy levels, weight management and stress management are significant.”
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While ultimately, an employee’s eating habits are a personal choice, employers can support their efforts to make healthier decisions through a personalized nutrition and meal planning resource that both educates and offers food suggestions specific to employees’ needs, Roeca says. And employees appreciate the investment into their well-being: A recent report from Lifesum shows 71% of millennials and Gen Z would quit their job tomorrow for one they felt better supported their well-being.
“Providing employees a tool so they can better understand their personal eating habits and how nutrition impacts their overall well-being [is helpful],” she says. “Recognizing individual variability in nutritional needs allows for personalized dietary choices based on factors like age, gender, genetics and lifestyle, promoting a holistic approach to nutrition.”
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Roeca shares a few other initiatives for encouraging better dietary health among employees.