ABSTRACT
Obesity is an important condition, which deserves our attention as workplace health advisors and the attention of business for several reasons. According to the World Health Organization, we are in the grip of an obesity epidemic. Government has really become aware to the health impacts of obesity. Occupational health and safety practitioners, health promotion specialists and public health professionals are all key to raising awareness of the need for the action, but it is business – and particularly business which relies heavily on human capital – that will be the key initiator, driver and beneficiary of such action in the workplace. Providing a healthy workplace with opportunities for a healthy lifestyle will help business to meet the challenge of changes in labour supply and competition. This does not always need to mean increased expense but rather doing things differently and considering how to develop a healthy workforce and workplace when designing work and the work environment.
