most of us have a sense of which eating and exercising habits (or lack thereof) have gotten us into trouble and stand in the way of our shedding pounds. it's staying motivated that's the hard part. but there may be help for you in unexpected places. how about a little help from. your employer? if you're not looking to your employee benefits or even your insurance company for help reaching your health goals you may be missing out. "increasingly employers are providing incentives and offering programs to employees looking to take better control of their health " says mike thompson a principal in pricewaterhousecoopers' health and welfare practice. this year the incentives to follow through on your weight loss plans among other health goals are greater than ever. here's just a taste of what's being offered to help you keep the weight off: weight watchers at work. onsite nutrition classes. healthier food offerings in the cafeteria and in vending machines. free or reduced membership costs for joining a gym. nurse coaches available by telephone to discuss health management. activity-related programs such as: making pedometers available (to record how many steps you take). web sites to record your level of physical activity in a given day. competitions among workers to get active. walking programs at lunch time. check your benefits package or talk with your human resources department about the types of wellness programs available to you at the office. and if you buy health benefits on your own call your insurance company to ask about weight-loss assistance. both employers and insurers are anxious to help you meet your health goals thompson says. take credit if losing weight and the health benefits that come with it aren't enough to keep the twinkies at bay focus on employer incentives which are richer than ever this year at many companies. employers are hoping that rewards for both action and results will encourage you to engage in healthy behaviors. a growing trend: if you not only enroll in a weight loss program but also make significant progress toward your goal benefits await you. according to thompson among the most common incentives being offered to employees to start and complete wellness programs are: reduced insurance premiums. gift cards. cash. in addition to paying less money for insurance employers will sometimes offer a more robust benefits package with lower co-payments and deductibles to employees who demonstrate a commitment to their health. "why not take credit for it? " thompson asks of those who plan to lose weight on their own anyhow. "if you trend and track your progress you may get more credit than you even thought available. "
how can my employer help me lose weight?