The Pacific Research Institute reports that 17% of children today are obese and that number climbs to 66% by the time they reach adulthood. For employers the question is does obesity affect productivity?

The answer is yes. I can give you lots of quotes from studies that indicate when people are overweight they miss more workdays due to sickness and struggle with other ailments. Excessive weight due to poor diet and lack of exercise can affect productivity in other ways too. However what I want to touch on today is a warning: Be careful what you conclude based on the headlines you read. Do not be quick to categorize any employee as obese.

Not everyone will agree with the Pacific Research Institute. I certainly do not all of the time. They are very conservative group that believes government should be a fraction of its current size (that much I like!). However their perspective is worthy of consideration. Sally C. Pipes, the president and chief executive of the Pacific Research Institute and the author of “Miracle Cure: How to Solve America’s Health Care Crisis and Why Canada Isn’t the Answer,” wrote an article for Washington Post titled, Brave New Diet, which appeared on December 26, 2007.

According to PRI the standard government metric for ”…a person’s body-mass index, or BMI – the ratio of one’s height to one’s weight. But at best, BMI is a rough tool that does not take into account an individual’s body type. A six-foot-two athlete who weighs 210 pounds would be classified as ‘obese’ according to BMI charts – despite his 32-inch waistline, 17-inch biceps and his less than 6 percent actual body fat.

“If you believe the BMI tables, most of the best players in the NBA and NFL are “overweight,” including superstar athletes Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady. Many Hollywood heartthrobs also qualify as fatties – Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Tom Cruise and George Clooney, to name a few.” To read the entire article, click Brave New Diet.

My point is there is a benefit to your company and employees to encourage everyone to eat healthy foods and exercise on a daily or at least 3x a week basis. The best place to start is with you as an effective leader. You set the example and then encourage others. If you cannot find the time to exercise, then do not be a hypocrite telling others they should do what you refuse to make a priority in your own life.

One great example of making a significant life change in this area is presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. He has lost over 100 pounds through improving his diet and exercising.

Let’s all improve our diet and be more consistent in our exercise so we have more energy than the competition to do the best job possible.