NCCI reports that there is growing evidence that obesity not only contributes to the cost of medical care in workers' compensation, but that it is "significant in magnitude." They point to a recent study of workers' compensation claims of Duke University employees, where it shows for the morbidly obese, the medical costs per 100 full-time employees are nearly seven times more than for employees of recommended weight. The study also discusses how costs increase significantly as the claims mature. See the NCCI Full Study "Reserving in the Age of Obesity." NCCI continues to study obesity and says it is an important trend to watch as it relates to workers' compensation claims. They expect to publish a new full study in early 2010. Check their website often for updates on this important topic. www.ncci.com
Another study on obesity, conducted by Johns Hopkins (Bloomberg School of Public Health) published in May of 2007, shows similar findings, and in particular, that obesity increases the risk of traumatic workplace injuries.
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