Productivity (Absenteeism)

This category of productivity is the largest that has been studied. It is productivity costs due to employees being absent from work for obesity-related health reasons. As is known, obesity causes many health complications. The unhealthier an employee is, the higher the likelihood the employee will miss work.  This results in money lost for the company and also puts a general burden on a business if that particular individual plays an important role in the success of the business.  A researcher found that in a division of Shell Oil Company located in the United States, that 3.73 days of work were lost per year for each obese worker compared to their normal-weight coworkers. He also found that these obese workers were also 194% more likely to use their paid time off. This study shows, that obesity affects businesses in many forms and could potentially cause employers to want to completely write off obese individuals as hard working citizens due to statistics like this.  Eventually causing problems with unemployment and thus, the economy.

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Absenteeism

 Hammond, Ross A., and Ruth Levine. "The Economic Impact of Obesity in the United States." Dove Press (2010): 285-95. Brookings.edu. Dove Medical Press Ltd, 17 Aug. 2010. Web. 3 May 2012.

"Economic Impact of Obesity." Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity — What We Do — Economics — Topics:. Web. 4 May 2012.