Healthy Employees are Happy and Productive Employees: Keeping your “Bottom Line” Healthy

This 2016 WCI session’s presenter was Freddie Kaye, PhD, LD, a nationally known clinical nutritionist. For more than 35 years, Dr. Kaye has taught physicians diet therapy and counselled “health challenged” people who are overweight and suffer from Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and have elevated lipids and  has helped people whose problems are related to their lifestyle, behavior and habits.

Dr. Kay said 70% of the population is overweight. Being overweight or obese contributes to developing Type 2 diabetes, various types of cancers and many other health issues. Most popular diet plans focus on the short-term and just don’t work. Most of Dr. Kay’s presentation focused on making changes for permanent weight loss.

The ideal diet is made up of mainly high fiber foods. Protein and fats should make up a small portion of one’s overall diet. Also, too much animal fat and animal protein leads to higher risks resulting in plaque building up on the artery walls. (The fiber in legumes can help.)

The ideal diet is comprised of:

• 70% high fiber starch (carbohydrates, such as legumes, whole grains, fruits, vegetables)
• 15% protein
• 15% fats

Another key to achieving a healthy weight is to increase metabolism.

• Eat breakfast daily – Stokes the fire and has a great impact on metabolic speed
• Routine meals – Eating meals at approximately the same time each day is key
• Regular exercise – Power walking is a great fat-burning exercise

Unhealthy habits and behaviors such as emotional eating, recreational eating, boredom eating and drinking calories can easily lead to weight gain. Other contributors include eating out frequently and consuming larger portions, skipping meals, lack of a routine in daily eating and a sedentary lifestyle.

Developing healthy habits are also key to contributing to a healthy weight.

• Slow down eating
• No grazing
• Plan ahead
• Manage stress

Dr. Kay emphasized that obesity really weighs on worker’s comp. Good wellness programs in the workplace to help combat obesity, such as the one he has created, can result in increased productivity, decreased sleep apnea, decreased absenteeism, decreased work-related accidents, and decreased overtime. Also, according to the Journal of Occupational Medicine, employees that participate in such health programs are three times more likely to be satisfied in their work.