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Employee Wellness Programs
for Weight Loss

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

Employee wellness programs have become a cornerstone of organizational success in today's corporate landscape. These initiatives go beyond just offering health benefits—they aim to create a healthier, more satisfied, and more productive workforce.

These programs are showing measurable impact. In fact, according to the 2023-2024 Aflac WorkForces Report, 66% of employees are “less likely to look for a new job if they feel like their company supports their well-being.”

Weight management programs, more specifically, have gained significant traction among the various wellness options available, given their direct impact on individual health and corporate performance.

This page provides an in-depth look at employee wellness programs centered around weight loss and beyond, exploring their dimensions, types, goals, and benefits.

Dimensions of wellbeing

Employee wellness is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various dimensions of well-being, including:

Physical health

Physical health is the most obvious dimension, involving regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and preventive healthcare measures. 

Weight management plays a critical role here, as maintaining a healthy weight can prevent numerous chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. By keeping weight and metabolic health in check, employees also experience enhanced quality of life—making it easier to stay active and enjoy daily activities.

Mental health

Mental and emotional health is equally important, as stress, anxiety, and other psychological issues can significantly impact physical health and an employee’s ability to successfully complete the functions of their role. 

Furthermore, emotional health can affect metabolic function: Stress can trigger the release of cortisol, a hormone that can increase blood sugar levels and trigger insulin resistance. In turn, excess cortisol may lead to a range of metabolic health issues. 

Effective weight management programs often include components that address mental well-being, such as stress management techniques and emotional health support and the identification of triggers that lead to emotional eating.  

Social health

Social health involves fostering strong, supportive relationships within the workplace. Group activities, peer support programs, and a sense of community can enhance the effectiveness of wellness initiatives, including those aimed at weight loss or weight management. 

Weight management

Weight management is about far more than physical appearance—it's a critical aspect of overall wellbeing. Proper weight management can lead to improved physical health, reduced mental stress, and better social interactions, all of which contribute to a more productive and satisfied workforce.

With Calibrate, we treat obesity and overweight differently. Our program applies a clinical lens to treatment, working to eliminate stigma and instead focus on the improvement of our members' quantitative health markers and overall quality of life.

Types of employee wellness programs

General Wellness Programs

These programs offer a broad range of activities, from fitness classes to nutrition workshops. While beneficial, they often lack the specificity needed to address chronic health issues like obesity, prediabetes, and/or diabetes. 

Targeted Weight Management Programs

These programs—like Calibrate's—focus specifically on helping employees achieve and maintain a healthy weight. They typically include personalized food, exercise, and emotional health coaching. With Calibrate, members also receive support from a licensed medical team and access to prescription GLP-1 medications. As well as access to a science-backed curriculum focused the foundations of metabolic health. 

Comprehensive Health Programs

Programs that address multiple aspects of health, including physical, mental, and social well-being. Some may offer specialized modules for weight management, but they may lack depth and focus in this area. 

Goals of employee wellness programs

Improving health outcomes

The primary goal of any wellness program is to improve the overall health of employees. For weight management programs, this means helping employees achieve and maintain a healthy weight, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

In particular, wellness programs that focus on metabolic health may improve outcomes in the top four out of the ten most prevalent and costly conditions in the United States, per the CDC: obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and coronary heart disease.

Reducing healthcare costs

Healthier employees mean fewer medical claims and lower healthcare costs for the organization. Weight management programs can significantly reduce expenses related to obesity-related conditions.

A 2023 study found that, for individuals who successfully reduced their weight (the study cohort reduced their BMI by an average of 23%), there was a substantial reduction in group health insurance payments: Where group insurance payments were similar at baseline, the study cohort had a 33% payment reduction at one year compared with only a 10% reduction in the control group.

Enhancing employee productivity and satisfaction

Healthier employees are generally happier and more productive. Multiple studies back up this claim, including a frequently-cited 2005 report that found that obesity results in substantial increases in medical costs and, more impactfully, absenteeism among full-time employees—the latter accounting for 30% of the total costs. 

By investing in weight management programs, companies can boost both employee morale and productivity, leading to a more engaged workforce. Furthermore, as stated by the CDC, “The cost savings of providing a workplace health program can be measured against absenteeism among employees, reduced overtime to cover absent employees, and costs to train replacement employees.”

Weight management within corporate wellness

Components of an effective program: The Four Pillars of Metabolic Health

Calibrate’s approach to weight management and metabolic health is built on four key pillars: Food, Exercise, Sleep, and Emotional Health. Together, these four pillars create a comprehensive and sustainable approach to achieving metabolic health and weight loss. They form the stepping stones to lasting behavioral change, which is key to sustained weight loss.

Benefits of Calibrate
for employers

Sustained weight loss

The Calibrate program focuses on sustainable weight loss through a combination of FDA-approved medications, personalized coaching, and a science-backed curriculum. By addressing metabolic health, it helps employees achieve significant weight loss, which can lead to lower healthcare costs and increased productivity. 

With an average of 16% weight loss at 12 months and 18% at 24 months, the results of the Calibrate program speak for themselves.

Improved Metabolic Health

Calibrate’s impact goes beyond the scale. As demonstrated in our 2024 Results Report, 78% of members who started the program with prediabetes or diabetes achieved normal hemoglobin A1c levels at 12 months. 

In addition, members both with and without type-2 diabetes or prediabetes showed improvements in fasting insulin, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL. 

All of these outcomes contribute to long-term health improvements and reduced healthcare costs for employers who offer Calibrate as a part of their benefits package. 

Comprehensive Support

Calibrate provides a holistic approach that combines medication, lifestyle changes, and ongoing support to ensure long-term success.

All members receive 1:1 bi-weekly video coaching, which ensures personalized guidance tailored to each member’s unique health needs and goals. Coaching sessions follow the Calibrate curriculum, which is centered on the Four Pillars of Metabolic Health: Food, exercise, sleep, and emotional health. 

Calibrate coaches work closely with members to make gradual, impactful lifestyle changes they can sustain in the long term. In addition, members receive ongoing medical support: Each member undergoes an initial comprehensive health assessment, including lab work, followed by a video consultation with their Calibrate doctor. 

Ongoing check-ins with the Calibrate medical team ensure that the prescribed GLP-1 medications are optimally tailored to the individual's health profile, that progress remains steady, and that any necessary adjustments can be made at the right time—all contributing to a high standard of care. 

Employee wellness FAQs

Key takeaways

Employee Wellness & Weight Management

Employee wellness programs, including those focused on weight loss, are increasingly important for creating a healthier, more productive workforce. By investing in these programs, organizations can improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance employee satisfaction and productivity.

Calibrate is at the forefront of this movement. With our evidence-based approach and proven results, we are changing the way the world treats weight. We invite you to explore our latest results report and see how Calibrate can transform your organization's approach to employee wellness.

View Results