Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts & Weight Watchers(R)

With all of the attention on the growing obesity epidemic, companies are looking for proven effective solutions to help their employees become healthier. Through Weight Watchers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) is now offering its health plan members a flexible, comprehensive group of weight-loss offerings. BCBSMA will extend special savings to ALL members in participating areas regardless of product or plan. The offerings available include Local Meeting vouchers*, an Online subscription, At Work meetings*, and the At Home kit*. For more information or to purchase Local Meeting vouchers, health plan members can call toll free 1-866-204-1712.

"We are very excited to have partnered with Weight Watchers. The Weight Watchers offerings have the potential to reach our 3 million members with health-related information and trusted approaches to weight management," explained Kim Olson, Vice President of Contracted Health Services. "Our corporate mission is to ‘always put our members’ health first,’ and with obesity a growing problem nationwide, we’re glad to be able to offer a weight-loss plan that can help."

BCBSMA also offers eligible plan members up to $150 per calendar year toward fees paid for attendance in Weight Watchers meetings (Local Meetings in the community or At Work Meetings in the workplace). All members in participating areas are able to take advantage of the special pricing on Weight Watchers offerings. Those who are eligible for the $150 benefit will now get an additional financial incentive.

Obesity in the Workplace

If the workforce is typical of American adults, two-thirds of employees are overweight or obese.1 Companies spend up to 52% more in annual healthcare costs on obese employees than they do on employees at a healthy weight.2 A large part of the cost of obesity comes from the way the condition worsens other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. These costs come from a variety of sources, including physician visits, outpatient and inpatient hospital charges, and prescription drugs.

Lost worker productivity is also very costly. Heavier workers experience more disability and have more health-related absences than thinner workers. It’s not simply about absenteeism, however. Excess weight is also linked to "presenteeism" — time spent on the job but performing at less than full capacity. A 2005 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reported that obese workers cost employers more than an estimated $42 billion per year in lost productive time. Surprisingly, two-thirds of this cost was explained by presenteeism, while the remaining one-third was from absences.3

"For many people who are busy juggling work and family responsibilities, having Weight Watchers available through work is their best chance for dealing with their weight-control issues," said Karen Miller-Kovach, M.S., R.D., Chief Scientist and Global Vice President of Program Development at Weight Watchers International.

Many employers incorporate Weight Watchers into an overall employee wellness program and, in some cases, health insurance plans offer special savings and/or reimbursements to individual employees who achieve and maintain their healthy weight goal.

About Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Weight Watchers International, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of weight management services, operating globally through a network of Company-owned and franchise operations. Weight Watchers holds over 50,000 weekly meetings where members receive group support and education about healthy eating patterns, behavior modification and physical activity. WeightWatchers.com provides innovative, subscription weight management products over the Internet and is the leading Internet-based weight management provider in the world. In addition, Weight Watchers offers a wide range of products, publications and programs for those interested in weight loss and weight control.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (www.bluecrossma.com) was founded 69 years ago by a group of community-minded business leaders. Today, headquartered in Boston, BCBSMA provides coverage to 3 million members. BCBSMA believes in rewarding doctors and hospitals for delivering safe and effective care, and in empowering patients to take more responsibility, become educated health care consumers and become stronger partners with their doctors. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

1 Ogden CL, et al. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999-2004. JAMA. 2006 Apr 5;295(13):1549-55.

2 Burton WN, et al. The Economic Costs Associated with Body Mass Index in a Workplace. J Occup Environ Med. 1998 Sept;40(9):786-792.

3 Ricci JA, Chee E. Lost Productive Time Associated with Excess Weight in the U.S. Workforce. J Occup Environ Med. 2005 Dec;47:1227-1234.

*Available only in participating areas in the U.S.