Obesity in the Workplace: Impact, Outcomes, and Recommendations

OBJECTIVE:To conduct a comprehensive literature review to develop recommendations for managing obesity among workers to improve health outcomes and to explore the impact of obesity on health costs to determine whether a case can be made for surgical interventions and insurance coverage. METHODS:We searched PubMed from 2011 to 2016, and CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Registry of Clinical Trials for interventions addressing obesity in the workplace. RESULTS:A total of 1419 articles were screened, resulting in 275 articles being included. Several areas were identified that require more research and investigation. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings support the use of both lifestyle modification and bariatric surgery to assist appropriate patients in losing weight.