Todd Whitthorne, President of ACAP Health Consulting, and Tom Kane, Executive Vice President and Director of Life & Health for Stephens Insurance, are interviewed by Frank Thomas in this episode of Stephens Viewpoints. Todd, Tom, and
Frank discuss the epidemic of obesity in America and around the world.
[:31] According to the CDC, productivity losses from missed work cost employers about $225 billion annually, not to mention the impact that prolonged absences from work have on the individual.
[1:00] ACAP’s mission is to measurably improve the health of the employee population by impacting the risk factors that contribute to costly conditions that are preventable. ACAP partners with Stephens in this mission. Client companies seek intentionally to improve employee health over time.
[2:45] Tom presents a 4,000-employee population client case study. In five years, almost 2,000 client employees participated in Naturally Slim, for an aggregate weight loss of almost 20,000 lbs. Their cost curve is back to 2006 numbers.
[3:46] Health touches everything, especially productivity and employee happiness. There are many benefits to a company culture of health. Most of today’s top-performing companies have a strong culture of health.
[4:46] 40% of American adults are obese, meaning their Body Mass Index is 30 or greater. In 1980 that number was about 15%. It is predicted that 60% of today’s children will be obese by age 35.
[5:44] If we do our job properly, we can deliver interventions that are clinically measurable, that we can put performance guarantees around, and that are imminently scalable, and that are easy for the employer and the employee to facilitate.
[6:09] Stephens is great at helping companies understand the value of a program where people feel better, sleep better, miss less work, and are happier. No one loses in that equation. The C-Suite needs to lead by example. Everyone needs to feel personal accountability for their health. This includes spouses and children.
[7:24] Todd sees “wellness” two ways; cultural wellness programs and clinical wellness. He explains Metabolic Syndrome in terms of a scoreboard, with blood glucose being the most important score.
[8:41] Todd examines the numbers behind wellness programs. If you can prevent an employee from converting from prediabetes to diabetes, that’s great. 37% of Americans are prediabetic. 90% of them don’t know it. 12% of Americans are diabetic. Individuals want to look and feel better.
[9:47] No one has more impact on your health than you do.
[11:34] Naturally Slim helps people with their behavior and habits. There are weekly lessons that help with skills around food.
[15:00] Social contagiousness applies to weight loss. A lot of people lean in toward success.
[16:37] Hunger is a continuum.
[18:11] Some individuals in Tom’s department have had tremendous success with Naturally Slim. Small incremental weight loss can have dramatic improvement in health.
[19:21] How should employers address the health concerns of the various generations in their workforce? Personalize the message and meet people where they are.
[20:57] Todd says leadership from the C-Suite is the most critical aspect of a culture of health. Tom says you’ve got to be able to challenge the status quo. If you want different outcomes, you have to have different strategies.
[23:31] If you want more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Stephens Insurance.
Tom Kane, Executive Vice President and Director of Life & Health