Economic evaluation of a worksite obesity prevention and intervention trial among hotel workers in Hawaii.
OBJECTIVE
Economic evaluation of Work, Weight, and Wellness (3W), a 2-year randomized trial of a weight loss program delivered through Hawaii hotel worksites.


METHODS
Business case analysis from hotel perspective. Program resources were micro-costed (2008 dollars). Program benefits were reduced medical costs, fewer absences, and higher productivity. Primary outcome was discounted 24-month net present value (NPV).


RESULTS
Control program cost $222K to implement over 24 months ($61 per participant), intervention program cost $1.12M ($334). Including overweight participants (body mass index >25), discounted control NPV was -$217K; -$1.1M for intervention program. Presenteeism improvement of 50% combined with baseline 10% productivity shortfall required to generate positive 24-month intervention NPV.


CONCLUSIONS
3W's positive clinical outcomes did not translate into immediate economic benefit for participating hotels, although modest cost savings were observed in the trial's second year.
Meenan
Richard T
RT
Science Programs Department, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR 97227, USA. richard.meenan@kpchr.org
Vogt
Thomas M
TM
Williams
Andrew E
AE
Stevens
Victor J
VJ
Albright
Cheryl L
CL
Nigg
Claudio
C
D000041:Absenteeism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics; D017132:Workplace