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May 2009
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| Corporate Wellness Review 2008 |
| Prof Adrian Kennedy |
| (Continued...) |
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Fitness and Nutrition
The current fitness and body-beautiful boom that saturates our TV and magazines has had the desired impact on corporate India. In 1998-99, 70.98 percent of employees were overweight. This has dropped to 35.52 percent in the 2008-2009 survey. In 1998-99, 54.80 percent employees were physically unfit. This stands at 48.46 percent in 2008 -2009. Relevant fitness and nutrition details follow: |
| Category |
1998- 99 |
2008-09 |
| Overweight |
70.98 % |
32.52 %
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| Large abdomens |
56.13 % |
42.00 %
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| High fat diet |
55.52 % |
54.00 %
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| High Sugar intake |
48.15 % |
46.00 %
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| Fast food intake |
35.28 % |
35.00 %
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| Frequent Snacks |
43.00 % |
36.90 %
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| Physically unfit |
54.8 % |
48.46 %
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| Poor Flexibility |
58.65 % |
36.00 %
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| Poor strength |
50.52 % |
49.00 %
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| Do not Exercise |
43.85 % |
40.71 %
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Improved Health
The benefits of physical fitness, weight loss and improved diet has had a beneficial effect on corporate health. In 1998-99, 30.31 percent of all executives were on daily medication. In 2008-09, this has dropped to 15.00 percent. In 1998-99, 83.71 percent employees had several degenerative and chronic ailments. In 2008-‘09, less than 48.24 percent of employees suffered with the following ailments: |
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| Ailment |
1998-99 |
2008-09 |
| Headaches |
30.07 % |
27.00 %
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| Asthma |
11.48 % |
8.00 %
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| Digestive problems |
40.35 % |
34.00 %
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| Joint problems |
37.47 % |
27.00 %
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| Allergies |
32.02 % |
12.00 %
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| Insomnia |
15.00 % |
12.46 %
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| HBP |
25.30 % |
17.49 %
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| Diabetes |
15.50 % |
14.17 %
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| High Cholesterol |
38.23 % |
15.55 %
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Stress and Tension
The era when countries could insulate themselves against the events in other countries seems to have passed. The current global melt down has had a turbulent effect on the stress in corporates, though the problem does not seem to be financial compensation. In 199 -99 there was a 44.10 percent dissatisfaction, whereas in 2008-09, less than 23.00 % of employees are unhappy with their compensation. The problem is certainly not work overload either. Earlier 45.26 percent employees had felt overworked. This number has fallen below 31.00 percent in the 2008-09 survey. However, there are marked increases elsewhere: |
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1998-99 |
2008-09 |
| Overall Stress |
39.00 % |
50.52 % |
| Work Stress |
3.40 % |
20.19 % |
| Home Stress |
1.62 % |
19.33 % |
| Daily pressures |
8.84 % |
16.71 % |
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| The immediate impact of stress is behaviour change, as seems to be reflected in an increase in stress at home. Other increases include: |
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| Activity |
1998-99 |
008-09 |
| Smoking |
14.09 % |
24.42 % |
| Alcohol |
5.72 % |
15.8 % |
| Paan |
6.47 % |
18.00 % |
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Benefits of Corporate Wellness
Several research studies have eulogised the benefits of corporate wellness and most recently the ICRIER India study has quantified the benefits of corporate wellness programmes (in organisations that implemented such) as follows:
- Absenteeism was found to have reduced by 27.00 percent
- Productivity improved by 14.00 percent
- Medicare costs were reduced by 26.00 percent
- Employee retention improved by 32.00 percent
- Corporate caring image improved by 82.00 percent
With this in mind, it seems to make sense for corporates to include the following corporate wellness systems into their organisations. The 2008-09 survey indicated that only a small minority of corporates promoted wellness in their organsiations, as follows:
- 30.00 percent of organisations provided medical checks to their employees
- 20.00 percent provided fruit and health foods in their canteens
- 16.00 percent made available gym facilities
- 18.00 percent encouraged age related intra department sports within the company
- 22.00 percent made available health related talks to their employees
The Apollo study revealed that 70 percent of organisations in India do not make available any corporate wellness facilities. It is here that major changes can be made to enable the Indian corporate to have a fitter and healthier workforce – and consequently to be more productive and profitable. |
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Dr. Adrian Kennedy is Professor and Consultant, Wellness Rx, international guru on health, wellness and lifestyle medicine and guest faculty for Harvard Medical School, USA. |
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