Supporting Employees to Manage Post-Lockdown Weight Gain in the U.S.

The future of employee wellbeing: adapting benefits to the new normal - Ep. 2 Aside from the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus, a recent poll by the American Psychological Association suggests that stress, trauma and changes to lifestyle are causing immense strain on our mental and physical health, and could trigger a secondary health crisis. For many, the stress of the pandemic has resulted in unintentional weight gain. A recent report by the American Psychological Association found that 42% of US adults gained an average of 29 pounds last year, and while weight gain in and of itself is not unhealthy, excess weight can increase the risk of developing chronic health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes and stroke. As we start to move into the ‘new normal,’ employers need to be aware of the emotional and physical toll that the pandemic has caused. Adapting benefits packages to help employees with weight gain and management of chronic conditions are examples of the steps employers can take to acknowledge and tackle the difficulties employees are facing. In Episode 2 of One Drop’s series “The future of employee wellbeing: adapting benefits to the new normal ,” we’re tackling the issue of post-covid weight gain and exploring strategies employers can use to develop a benefits program that helps employees prevent and manage chronic conditions. Topics for discussion include: - Lockdown weight-gain: why should employers care? - The human and financial cost of diabetes management and how it’s impacting your bottom line - Adapting benefits programmes to offer more support to employees with chronic conditions - And more.. Speakers: - Cameron Betts, Principal - Health & Benefits Consultant, Mercer - Sean Kramer, CEO, Diabetes Research Institute Foundation - Harpreet Nagra, VP of Behavior Science, One Drop