Excess weight also significantly increases the risk of workplace injuries, says Dr. Janssen. “Back injuries, falls, overexertion—individuals are 40% to 50% more likely to experience a gamut of injuries at work if they fall in the overweight category,” he says. According to Pollack et al. (American Journal of Epidemiology, 2007), this increased risk of injury may be related to obesity-related fatigue, physical limitations and the use medications for comorbidities. “There is also new evidence that individuals with obesity are more likely to have the flu and short-term respiratory illness,” Dr. Janssen adds. “All in all, workers with obesity are more likely to be absent from work due to long and short-term disability.” According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, obesity-related chronic conditions accounted for $4.3 billion in direct and indirect costs in 2005. This figure may have been an underestimation as it included costs for only eight chronic conditions and did not factor in costs for individuals who fall in the overweight category but do not have obesity.