How Better Nutrition Habits Can Boost Employee Health And Lower Cost Of Care

Poor employee nutrition habits are linked to:

• Chronic disease risk: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists poor nutrition as one of the top four health risk behaviors leading to preventable chronic diseases.

 

• Obesity-related health concerns and costs: In 2023, all U.S. states and territories had more than 20% of their adult population affected by obesity. This means that 2 in 5 people are at a greater risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and premature death. Annual medical costs for adults with obesity are $1,861 higher per person than adults with healthy weight.

 

• Productivity at work: Unhealthy eating habits play a large role in many health conditions and can lead to reduced productivity at work. Employees who are sick tend to miss more workdays and require extra time away from their jobs to manage their health.

Food Insecurity And Social Drivers Of Health (SDoH)

Food insecurity could be impacting some of your employees, and you may not even know it. In fact, food insecurities exist within every demographic and community in the United States — even yours. Illness, childcare, work schedules, or caring for loved ones can all affect the ability to obtain healthy food.

A household is considered to be food-insecure if its residents are unable to get enough food due to insufficient resources. Feeding America estimates 1 in 7 adults and 1 in 5 children experienced food insecurity in 2023. This increases the risk of adverse health outcomes and complicates condition management and is linked to higher healthcare costs.

The Impact Of Nutrient Density On Disease Management

Change starts with educating your employees on the importance of eating foods that supply the right nutrients. Foods are not inherently good or bad; most have a place within a balanced diet. What matters to a person’s health is nutrient density, the amount of disease-preventing nutrients like vitamins and minerals.

For example, an apple and a serving of pretzels have roughly the same number of calories. However, the pretzels offer very little nutrition aside from carbohydrates, while the apple provides carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, and potassium.

Nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats can raise “good” cholesterol (HDL) and offset heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure. On the other hand, not eating enough nutrient-dense foods can increase the risk of disease and certain cancers.

Helping Employees Implement Better Nutrition Habits

There are ways your organization can help boost employee nutrition, including providing digital tools and resources that make it easier for employees to make better food choices. This not only benefits their overall health but may also boost productivity and keep your business healthier, too.

Keep in mind that ease of access and the right amount of support can help encourage behavior change.

• Provide healthier options and motivation at work. If your employees work in one of your offices, you can help them make better choices at work by adding healthy snacks to your vending machines, lunch menu, or break rooms. If they work remotely, virtual nutrition webinars and healthy eating support groups can bring people together to learn and share dietary advice.

 

• Encourage personal accountability. Studies show people who monitor their nutrition and hydration habits have a greater understanding of how food impacts their health, better weight management, and in turn, improved overall health. One way to help your employees stay accountable is by providing easy access to the right tools, including food logs or nutrition trackers.
  
  Anthem’s Sydney^SM Health app, for example, allows people to track healthy habits and nutrition through the Activity Tracking feature. They can connect a fitness tracker to record healthy behaviors and earn points, manually enter activities, or log food with the in-app Calorie Counter.
  
  A daily food log or nutrition tracker can:

   

  • Make employees more aware of what and when they eat.
  • Uncover eating patterns and unhealthy eating triggers, like stress.
  • Reinforce new healthy habits to create long-term changes.
  • Keep employees on track with weight-management goals.
  • Educate them on macronutrients like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
  • Provide additional insight to doctors and dietitians.

Better Nutrition Contributes To A Healthier, Happier Workforce

When better nutrition habits are combined with exercise, education, and a supportive workplace culture, employees are empowered to take greater accountability for their own health. These positive behavior changes not only help reduce risk and lower costs for your business but also increase workplace productivity and enhance overall workplace well-being.