HEALTHY WEIGHT PROGRAM

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2020, reports the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States was 42.4%. This fact means that approximately 107 million adults in America are obese.

Research shows that obesity is a risk factor for a wide range of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and sleep apnea. Obesity has also been associated with mental health issues, such as an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that obesity is associated with increased absenteeism at work, from 1.1 to 1.7 extra missed days of work, as compared to normal-weight workers. This lost time on the job costs the nation an estimated $8.65 billion annually.

With the Healthy Weight program, Araya partners with its clients to help members lose weight by utilizing prescription drugs in addition to their other lifestyle changes.  Certain weight loss medications have proven more effective than dieting and exercise alone. The Healthy Weight program increases access to these medications for Araya’s membership.

Araya recognizes that the upfront coverage of these medications may cause employers to shy away from allowing their coverage, despite any long-term savings when members lose weight. To ensure that the money used to pay for these drugs is well-spent, Araya will check in with members every three months to ensure that progress is being made on their weight loss journey. Members not succeeding with their prescribed therapies will need to speak to their prescriber and discuss options before future prescriptions are authorized.

This program has an end goal of helping members return to a healthy weight range. When a normal weight is obtained and with approval from their prescriber, members may be able to stop using both the weight loss medication and possibly medications being used to treat other conditions. This will result in lower medical and pharmacy costs and healthier employees.

Get in touch with us to learn more about how the Healthy Weight program can help your members improve their overall health and help you save money in the long run.