Tackling obesity: a workplace imperative

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With obesity on the rise, employers face mounting health and financial challenges. In a recent white paper, iA Financial Group highlights how organizations can play a pivotal role in addressing obesity, in turn boosting employee well-being and containing long-term costs

OBESITY is a serious medical condition on the rise both across the globe and here in Canada. It poses significant challenges to people’s health but also to the financial health of organizations. iA Financial Group believes the workplace plays a crucial role in making a difference on both fronts. “While the weight management journey may seem challenging, the gains can be important for both employees and organizations,” says Jade Bellemare, director, communication and marketing, Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions at iA Financial Group. “Small weight losses can yield significant improvements in several factors undermining global health, help lower long-term costs by reducing disability claims and absenteeism, increase employee engagement and, ultimately, positively impact their total well-being. The workplace is fertile ground for solutions and can be instrumental in helping people through that journey.”

Founded in 1892, iA Financial Group is one of the largest insurance and wealth management groups in Canada, with five million clients and $259.4 billion in assets as of December 31, 2024. This trusted organization is present from coast to coast.

“While the weight management journey may seem challenging, the gains can be important for both employees and organizations. The workplace is fertile ground for solutions and can be instrumental in helping people through that journey”

Jade Bellemare, iA Financial Group

Research shows that the main financial costs employers face due to obesity in their workforces stem from productivity losses, such as disability claims and premature mortality. People living with obesity also have a much higher risk of comorbidities like diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. iA Financial Group has a front-row seat to the increasing impact obesity-related conditions are having on group insurance costs in Canada. For example, the total number of annual prescriptions for drugs used in obesity management in the country hit 2.7 million in 2023, up from 250,000 in 2019. This spike is partly due to the greater availability of effective drugs and is also reflected in pharmaceutical costs, as weight-loss drugs represent a growing share of private drug plans costs: from 2018 to 2024, this share increased 24.8% annually, according to the IQVIA™ Private Drug Plan Database.

Disability claims are also likely to grow, Bellemare notes. “Our own disability claims portfolio shows that, each year, between 25 and 45 out of every 1,000 people covered by a group insurance plan make a disability claim to deal with conditions generally associated with obesity.” She adds that from 2019 to 2024, short-term disability claims to address these conditions made up about 3% of all disability claims in a given year, growing at a rate of 3.8% a year. Meanwhile, long-term disability claims represented approximately 4.5% of all claims, growing at 2% a year. “Taking an active role on this issue provides employers with a more detailed view of the effects this has on the balance sheet,” Bellemare says. “It can also help them alleviate the impact obesity has on employee well-being, which ranges from the burden it puts on their personal finances to the toll it takes on their self-esteem and global health, among other things.”

One of the most common – and outdated – misconceptions about obesity is that it’s easy to fix. Simply eat better, take any medication prescribed, and be more physically active is common advice. But research shows it’s a far more complex constellation of factors that lead to the condition, including genetics, eating habits, the environment, social stigma, medication, sleep, and stress. To ensure that an employee benefits program assists staff in managing this condition, plan sponsors must provide the resources to help their members identify its causes and take the appropriate actions. “Supporting people who wish to address these issues in the workplace requires employers to evaluate how their plans can address these factors holistically,” Bellemare says. “Focusing on improving overall health implies that prevention – through promoting health and providing robust employee support programs – is also a key element.”

Building on the fundamental belief that weight management should be part of an organization’s group plan coverage, iA Financial Group recently released a white paper titled Managing obesity: a shared commitment. Aimed at plan administrators looking for ways to improve employee well-being and take a more inclusive approach to benefits programs, the white paper makes the case for providing plan members with tools and resources to facilitate weight management. From guidance on healthy habits and access to medication to supportive workplace policies, the white paper explores how employers can address the issue of obesity head-on. And as fellow industry stakeholders, group insurance providers are uniquely positioned to help organizations make meaningful strides in that effort.

“Supporting people who wish to address these issues in the workplace requires employers to evaluate how their plans can address these factors holistically”

Jade Bellemare, iA Financial Group

In tackling obesity, that collaborative and comprehensive approach is critical. Access to treatment is difficult, resources are often limited, and there is a long-standing emphasis on physical health and medical care while other important factors are overlooked. “We also need to consider stigmatization and mental health issues as part of a strategy aimed at supporting total well-being,” Bellemare explains, noting that mental health is, in fact, a good example of the movement needed on the obesity issue. A few short years ago, mental health wasn’t discussed, and there was much stigma associated with it. Reflecting on its trajectory as a well-being concern, she says “we can certainly make the case that for conditions such as obesity, a better understanding, along with access to products and services, will also be part of the benefits landscape.”

Thankfully, there is growing interest in approaching health and wellness holistically, and Bellemare is optimistic that this shift in perspective will lead to a range of solutions to support plan members battling challenges across the board, including those living with obesity.

The cost and complexity of obesity

Managing obesity: a shared commitment

Published March 17, 2025

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Factors contributing to obesity

The solution lies in the workplace

Providing access to weight management resources and services can help people manage their weight more effectively and allow them to continue being productive members of the organization

How can employers make a difference?

Biological

The brain controls eating behaviour and appetite

Approximately 40–70% of weight is linked to genetic inheritance

Genetic

Stress and psychological distress affect appetite

Psychological

Several types of medication cause long-term weight gain

Medication

Poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle increase risk

Environmental

Inequalities in socio-economic status and access to the healthcare system have an impact on weight gain

Social

Source: iA Financial Group’s Managing obesity: a shared commitment

Proactive management of obesity-related costs – and an improvement in employee well-being overall – requires an integrated approach aimed at improving global health rather than simply encouraging weight loss. This is crucial because managing obesity through a single variable, for example by leveraging drug therapy alone, may not generate sustainable results.

Those wishing to address obesity should have ongoing access to a range of solutions under their plan. These should include programs and support from specialists in nutrition, occupational therapy, and physical activity, as well as other services such as cognitive behavioural therapy, pharmacotherapy, and even bariatric surgery. “In an ideal world, plan sponsors would propose interventions to help address this complex issue,” Bellemare says. “Above and beyond providing employees with access to the right tools and services, communicating with and educating both staff and management about the available support can also significantly enhance employee understanding of how their benefits can work for them.”

Interested in making your benefits work for you when it comes to improving your workforce’s global health and your organization’s financial health? Download your copy of iA Financial Group’s Managing obesity: a shared commitment now.

Obesity is a complex chronic condition influenced by multiple factors