Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/616524
HEALTH HELP 24 // OWNER OPERATOR // JANUARY 2016 A study done in 2004 and 2005 by the Journal of Occupational and Environmen- tal Medicine (JOEM), using 2,849 truck- ers, concluded that both overweight and obese individuals had higher health costs and higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia (a condition in which there are too many fats present in the blood), diabetes and hyper- tension than their normal weight counter- parts. In an interesting and innovative devel- opment, Con-way Freight (recently pur- chased by XPO Logistics, Inc.) hired 46 full time wellness coaches. The company has seen a 32% reduction in workdays lost to injury since implementing the program. In another innovative step, Trucks, Inc. went to annual DOT physicals instead of the required bi-annual examinations, and saved more than $250,000 in medical in- surance costs; additionally, several pre- heart attack and pre-diabetic conditions were diagnosed earlier than if the 2-year examinations were being used. Obesity has infrequently been considered a condition that needed to be addressed in order to treat most work injuries and ill- nesses. Fortunately, that trend is changing as more information becomes available. HTAA and HTF want to be part of that changing trend. We feel that an economic analysis using a multidirectional approach will enhance a better understanding of the medical condition of obesity, progression of obesity and the impact on both drivers and employers. This approach, along with HTAA and HTF's other initiatives, hope- fully will help to bring about a new rec- ognition and resultant initiatives regarding the occurrence of obesity and its co-morbid conditions in the trucking industry. OO