The overweight worker: The price we pay

That too many Americans are overweight is not news, but the cost to businesses, governments and individuals is even greater than believed only a few years ago: Additional medical spending due to obesity is double previous estimates and exceeds even those of smoking, a new study by the National Opinion Research Center shows.
There are higher health insurance premiums, of course, because we all pay to cover those extra medical costs. What economists are discovering is that just as we learned about the costs associated with second-hand smoke, there is now a price tag on high body mass indexes.

• The percentage of overweight Americans (BMI of 25 to 29.9) has held relatively steady: It was 34% in 2008 and 32% in 1961.
• The percentage of Americans who are obese (with a BMI of 30 or higher) has tripled since 1960, to 34%.
• The incidence of extreme or "morbid" obesity (BMI above 40) has risen sixfold, to 6%.

In addition to a host of medical conditions, from heart disease to chronic pain, overweight people miss work more frequently, and can be less productive. Studies also show that overweight workers are less likely to be hired and promoted.