Overweight and Underperforming

Everybody knows Americans have developed a tendency toward obesity. Now research shows the trend is taking its toll in the workplace. The Washington Times reports that studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and North Carolina-based RTI International show that obese workers cost their employers an extra $2,500 per year on average due to medical expenses and missed work. And research from the University of Cincinnati shows that overweight employees are less productive than their slimmer counterparts, costing their employers an average of $1,800 a year.