Obesity Clinical Summary

How the Program Works | Facts You Need to Know | Obesity Outcomes

How the Program Works

In Matria’s Obesity Management Program, mental health professionals partner with registered dieticians to address the psychosocial influences of food addiction while developing a diet and exercise plan customized to meet the employee’s health needs. Through educational materials and telephonic interactions, employees receive a comprehensive assessment to determine individual needs, mental health and dietary counseling and targeted education and support materials.

Our mental health professionals conduct comprehensive lifestyle assessments that screen for eating disorders, readiness for change and other psychological factors that could impact treatment success. These assessments are then used to establish a strategy to motivate employees to want to change. Treatment plans include the following:

• Customized wellness and behavioral education to improve poor lifestyle behaviors contributing to the obesity problem via the telephone or Web-based coaching
• Dietary assessment and counseling to set nutritional and exercise goals coordinated with the employee’s physician
• Regular counseling sessions with dietician and mental health professionals to help with treatment plan compliance
• Access to 24/7 crisis intervention support
• Telephonic or Web support groups
• Healthy living journal
• Pedometer

Specialized educational materials include:

• Portion Distortion quiz and educational information
• Food journal and educational information
• Exercise journal and educational information
• Targeted education and support materials
• Web information, education and resources
• Quarterly mailings
• Heart disease risk calculator
• Online trackers

Facts You Need to Know

Now the second leading cause of preventable death, obesity causes 400,000 deaths a year, trailing smoking by 35,000. A national epidemic affecting roughly 33 percent of the American population, obesity is a serious health threat because of its association with costly, chronic diseases.

Obese people are at risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory disorders and breast, colon and prostate cancer. Obesity-related medical expenses in the United States are closing in on $100 billion annually.

Strong evidence suggests that weight loss reduces risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Case studies of various chronic diseases indicate the presence of obesity in:

• 57 percent of Type 2 diabetes cases
• 30 percent of gallbladder disease cases
• 17 percent of hypertension and heart disease cases
• 14 percent of osteoarthritis cases

Obesity Outcomes

Since its start in July 2003, Matria’s Obesity Management Program has produced the following results for our customers:

• Reduced weight for participants of 180 days or greater by 10.5 percent
• Improved presenteeism at work by 20 percent
• Reduced absenteeism by .5 percent
• Increased activities outside of work by 15 percent
• Improved emotional health by 90 percent