Benefits June 30, 2008

Balanced Diets Equal More Productive Workers

June 30, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A new wellness study suggests a link between a worker's diet and productivity level.
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ComPsych Corporation’s 2008 Health & Productivity Index revealed only 5% of employees with unbalanced diets had high levels of energy, while 50% of workers with balanced diets had high energy, according to a press release. Of employees with healthy diets, 73% reported having high levels of productivity, compared to 24% of employees with poor dietary habits.

In addition, the study found 57% of healthy weight employees reported high levels of productivity, while only 27% of very overweight employees reported the same. Fifty-one percent of ideal weight employees said their morale was high, while only 25% of very overweight employees indicated they had high morale levels.

“Given the connection between balanced diets and energy, organizations that promote healthy food – as part of a comprehensive wellness program – can expect to see payoff in terms of productivity and performance,” said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych, in the release.

ComPsych surveyed more than 1,000 employees across the U.S. from employers of all sizes and industries.

For a copy of the full report, as well as a tip sheet on using strategic wellness programs, send an e-mail to wellnessprograms@compsych.com .

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