| Many of us have the same reasons for wanting to | | | | substantially to your paycheck. But did you know that |
| exercise and lose weight.....look better, feel better, lower | | | | losing weight may also lower the amount of money |
| blood pressure, lower cholesterol, decreased risk of | | | | you personally pay out in medical costs?According to |
| some cancers, lower risk of heart disease, etc.But did | | | | a study recently published in Health Affairs, obese |
| you know that making your waistline thinner will also | | | | Americans pay $732 more for health care each year |
| make your wallet fatter?It's true! Losing weight will help | | | | than do normal-weight adults. So what would you do |
| you earn and save more money. "Studies have | | | | with an extra $732? Considering that $732 is more |
| consistently shown that obese employees are paid | | | | than double the annual cost of most gym |
| less than normal-weight employees doing similar jobs" | | | | memberships, it seems that joining a health club pays |
| (Source: - Palo Alto, CA)A comprehensive study of | | | | for itself.We all have great reasons for wanting to lose |
| wages in 1998 found that obese workers earn | | | | that excess weight, and how we have two more: |
| significantly less than than non-obese employees. How | | | | potentially higher wages and lower out-of-pocket |
| much less? About $3.41 per hour. This discrepancy | | | | medical expenses.However, we do need to issue one |
| was found only in those workers who had | | | | word of warning.....when losing weight you may find |
| employer-sponsored health insurance, perhaps | | | | that you need to spend some of that 'saved money' |
| suggesting that the higher costs of insuring obese | | | | on a new wardrobe. After all, you will have to buy |
| individuals was being passed on to the employees | | | | some new 'skinny' clothes!Tracie Johanson is the |
| themselves. (Source: Bundorf and co-author Jay | | | | founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise |
| Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, assistant professor of | | | | studio for women focusing on fitness, health and |
| medicine at the Center for Health Policy/Center for | | | | nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit for more |
| Primary Care and Outcomes Research).So it's | | | | information. |
| possible that losing weight could eventually add | | | | |