Direct, Absenteeism, and Disability Cost Burden of Obesity Among Privately Insured Employees: A Comparison of Healthcare Industry Versus Other Major Industries in the United States.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To compare obesity-related costs of employees of the healthcare industry versus other major US industries. METHODS Employees with obesity versus without were identified using the Optum Health Reporting and Insights employer claims database (1/2010-3/2017). Employees working in healthcare with obesity were compared to employees of other industries with obesity for absenteeism/disability and direct cost differences. Multivariate models estimated the association between industries and high costs compared to the healthcare industry. RESULTS Obesity-related absenteeism/disability and direct costs were higher in several US industries compared with the healthcare industry (adjusted cost differences of $-1,220-$5,630). Employees of the government/education/religious services industry (GERS) with obesity (BMI≥30) had significantly higher odds of direct costs ≥80th percentile (odds ratio vs healthcare industry=2.20; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Relative to the healthcare industry, employees of other industries, especially GERS, incurred higher obesity-related costs.