Cecilia Watkins, PhD, Department Of Public Health, Westen Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, STH 410C, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576, 270-745-4796, cecilia.watkins@wku.edu and Charles Wainright, PhD, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576.

Four of the ten leading causes of death in the United States are associated with obesity. Obesity, which is now at epidemic proportions and its related conditions have had a major negative impact on industries in the United States. The rising costs of health care coupled with losses due to absenteeism and the requirements of increased profitability and productivity, have placed greater demands on employers to keep their employees healthy and on the job. Many obesity strategies in the workplace have been explored in an effort to control the rising cost of employee health care services that affect a firm's profitability. One such company, Logan Aluminum, an aluminum rolling plant in rural Kentucky, took the year 2003 as the year of change. Logan Aluminum put into place multiple strategies to address several health issues, including obesity. The effectiveness of these changes is still unfolding, but even at this early stage some significant conclusions will be delineated. While obesity and worksite health promotion will be the primary focus on this report, other risk factors and environmental issues will also be addressed in this report.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)List the leading causes of death that are associated with obesity.
• 2)Articulate the correlation of obesity and profitability in the workplace.
• 3)Discuss the many obesity strategies used in the workplace and analyze the effectiveness of those strategies.

Keywords: Worksite, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.