"... In the companies he had consulted with, Dr. Johnson stated that the number
one factor a business looks at is the health status of the community. Why?
Because of the potential cost to the company. Yet, our commissioners continue to
focus on tax rates and education levels, both very important, but with barely a
nod towards the community's health. Wonder what it will take to make us truly
realize what our "good health" is worth to us?"
A recent article in the Charlotte Observer, reprinted in our local Raleigh News & Observer which also quoted Dr. Johnson, looked at the issue of businesses assessing health status before committing to communities from a slightly different angle:
… Among other considerations, companies could be eyeing obesity rates before
deciding where to put new plants and offices. The idea is that by examining
obesity rates and avoiding opening where more obese people live, companies can
cut their future health care costs. For the Carolinas, that could spell trouble,
given that the majority of residents are tipping the scales.
This makes me think of a few things, in no particular order:
- recent data are calling into question the assumption that overweight equals unhealthy. For example, a recent New York Times article cited data from the Archives of Internal Medicine that showed that in a study of cardiovascular risk factors in 5,400 adults, half of those deemed overweight and one-third of those deemed obese were "metabolically healthy" -- that is, they had healthy levels of "good" cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, etc. And, about a quarter of slim, "healthy-weight" individuals had at least two cardiovascular risk factors. So any company thinking of using obesity rates as proxy for health should consult with someone who knows the latest research (i.e., a health care or public health researcher or professional -- someone who understands the big picture about health and all it entails) before using that to determine whether to set up shop.
- As David suggests, a good strategy for communities trying to attract business would be to improve the health of its community. Community health insurance? Community design to encourage safe activity in neighborhoods and public spaces? Community resources toward public swimming pools, parks, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts? Community health clinics? There are a lot of things to think about. They cost money, but so do unhealthy citizens and empty worksites.
- A good business strategy for businesses who are already established would be to improve the health status of their employees. How could they do this? One commenter to the N & O story said she tries to apply to companies that offer a gym or fitness discount, and suggested that companies have subsidized cafeteria and gym on the premises to make it easier for employees to fit healthy living into their schedule. Here at the NC Institute for Public Health we don’t have such facilities, but we do have in our written policy manual the support for staff members’ taking breaks to exercise, the commitment to having healthy food at company events, the support for on-site exercise clubs, etc.
- Several Management Academy teams have been built around partnerships with businesses that want to help their employees be healthier. We wrote a few weeks ago in this space about a team in Oklahoma building a partnership around health insurance and business interests. We write about others in the book – in Chapter 6 we mention a plan in Virginia that aimed to provide health screenings and education at worksites (pg. 55). In their exploration of need that team had found that businesses are desperate for public health help in implementing such programs. Visit the “Business Plan” section of the MAPH website (www.maph.unc.edu) for many more ideas. Note that in general, the plans do not solely address obesity; rather they look at the big picture of overall healthy living.
That's all for today.
-- Anne Menkens
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