Association of Worksite Wellness Center Attendance With Weight Loss and Health Care Cost Savings: Mayo Clinic’s Experience

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2015-03, Vol.57 (3), p.229-234
• Main Authors: Borah, Bijan J., Egginton, Jason S., Shah, Nilay D., Wagie, Amy E., Olsen, Kerry D., Yao, Xiaoxi, Lopez-Jimenez, Francisco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Body Mass Index; Comparative analysis; Cost reduction; Cost Savings; Female; Fitness Centers; Health Care Costs; Health care expenditures; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Health Services; Original Article; Retrospective Studies; Weight control; Weight Loss; Wellness programs; Workplace
• ISSN: 1076-2752; 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000392

OBJECTIVE:To assess the impact of wellness center attendance on weight loss and costs. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted using employee data, administrative claims, and electronic health records. A total of 3199 employees enrolled for 4 years (2007 to 2010) were included. Attendance was categorized as follows1 to 60, 61 to 180, 181 to 360, and more than 360 visits. Weight loss was defined as moving to a lower body mass index category. Total costs included paid amounts for both medical and pharmacy services. RESULTS:Subjects with 181 to 360 and more than 360 visits were 46% (P = 0.05) and 72% (P = 0.01) more likely to have body mass index improvement compared with those with 1 to 60 visits. Compared with the mean annual cost of $13,267 for 1 to 60 visits, the mean for subjects with 61 to 180, 181 to 360, and more than 360 visits had significantly lower costs at $9538, $9332 and $8293, respectively (all P < 0.01). Higher attendance was associated with weight loss and significantly lower annual costs.