In recent years, the United States has seen the emergence of countless lifestyle-related illnesses. We have seen increased inactivity, poor diet, increased smoking and more frequent alcohol consumption; Americans lead unhealthy lifestyles that certainly contribute to the pervasiveness of chronic disease. Chronic illnesses were once seen as issues facing older generations, but in recent years America's working age group has become a primary target. For example, Americans experience higher rates of diabetes and heart disease. Such conditions only lead to a decrease in quality of life, could eventually lead to a shorter lifespan, disabilities and, most likely, in the long term, increased health care costs. Businesses are also impacted by employee lifestyle decisions; absenteeism and presenteeism. Employee wellness programs, also known as “workplace wellness programs,” are programs designed to promote and support the health, safety, and well-being of employees. a business. Wellness programs aim to improve staff health, morale and, therefore, improve productivity. There are many elements that make up employee wellness programs, for example; Health screenings, health fairs, fitness classes, smoking cessation classes and even workshops on wellness issues. Employers have begun to adopt these programs in hopes of helping their employees while they are at an age where health interventions can still help them transform their long-term health choices. This article will focus on the trends observed between employee weight and productivity, as well as the impacts these could have on a company as a whole. It would be safe to say that Ame...... middle of paper ......ter for obese individuals than for average weight individuals. The healthier workers are, the less they use medical services. The five leading causes of death in the United States—heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes—are directly linked to unhealthy lifestyles. Clearly, encouraging healthy habits presents an opportunity to improve worker well-being, reduce the need for medical services, and help control costs. We must recognize that our methods for controlling overweight and obesity may begin, but should not end with individual responsibility. Only a certain number of diseases require a general approach, other than the effort to maintain and reduce levels of overweight and obesity, and in rare places the stakes are higher. Employers seem to have accepted this problem and are trying to develop programs to address it..68995994