Workplace Weightloss programs

Skratchie

My company is offering a pilot program starting in March to the first 1000 people who sign up for a comprehensive weight loss program. I'm not talking about Weight Watchers - this seems to be much more invasive. They provide you with a scale that has bluetooth that automatically records your weight and sends it to the company's website (which provides the participant with a dashboard much like MFP, I think) running the pilot. They also provide coaching calls and some sort of course material that teaches you the "right way" to eat and exercise. In addition, they provide you with a bluetooth enabled pedometer that again, sends the information to a website that the company running the program can monitor. There is also a phone number you can call to get help when you run into a problem or have a question. All of this is free to the participant. I would potentially consider it, if it wasn't for the fact I am concerned about what happens to the information that is transmitted from the bluetooth devices to the website. I mean, is this information going to be given to my company as well?? There's nothing I've read that says the program is completely confidential, but I could have missed it.

I should mention that our company has a program where we have to earn a certain number of points to receive lower insurance premium rates, and this would give you a huge chunk of the points ... but there are other ways to earn points.

What do you think? Would you do it or would you avoid it at all costs?

weird_me2

If it was something that interested me, I'd do it, honestly, especially if it helped me earn a lot of those points for the insurance premium reduction. Is it really your employer that you are worried about knowing your weight, or your insurance carrier? For me, I don't care if my "employer" knows. I mean, it's not like anyone I know or see on a regular basis is going to know. As for the insurance carrier, I'm sure they already know everything if you ever go to the doctor, so there's nothing to hide from them. We do a health assessment every year to receive a premium reduction and we have to share our weight.

Skratchie

Not worried about my insurance company, but I AM concerned about the company I work for, as they have become pretty hardcore about fitness the last couple of years. It's obvious when someone looks at me that I need to lose weight, but I no more want my information from this program shared than I would want my doctor to send my medical files to my company's HR department.

weird_me2

I would see if I could get more information on the program and privacy. I know that when we do our health screenings, they are confidential and not seen by our company. The program website we use is an outside, 3rd party website that's actually sponsored by our insurance company, not the company I work for.

Maddalen101

It rings my alarm bells for privacy, and for the insurance premiums you will pay. Beware.

auddii

If the information is being used in an analysis or will be published in any way, that would be considered human subject research and by federal regulation you must be given an informed consent that will explain what will happen with the data. Since you haven't received that information, you can safely say that it won't be used for research purposes. However, most things like this will have some kind of terms of service. I'd contact the legal department of your company or the company that runs the website (if it's not internal to your company). You know the lawyers have that information somewhere.

Skratchie

It rings my alarm bells for privacy, and for the insurance premiums you will pay. Beware.

Group health policy, so the rates don't change based on personal information, and we can't be denied coverage so I'm not worried about that. I'm more concerned about the aspect of my company's HR department getting the information - I can't really say WHY it makes me nervous, other than just the fact that I don't like to share personal medical information with them. However, I had to have some surgery last year and I was out for four weeks, and by law, they couldn't ask what procedure I was having done, and the doctor's office couldn't release the information without my consent, which I never gave. All my company could really do was ask how long I was going to be out and when I got ready to return to work, they required a doctor's release, so maybe I'm just over thinking the whole thing.

The suggestion to contact the legal department of the external company running the program is a good one, so I will do that. Thanks!

HIITMe

It rings my alarm bells for privacy, and for the insurance premiums you will pay. Beware.

BINGO!! my company does this..it DIRECTLY affects our insurance rates in a manner despite having group rate ( its TIERED) ... they also give us a Health Care Reimbursement card and the amount you get credited is based on how you score on the Health Assessment test ( had a BUNCH of stupid question from Do you smoke, to how many times do you go to the bathroom to Do you go to lunch with a group or alone).....

my privacy is worth more than any $$ I could save... the company and who ever else having access to this info can ( and will ) use this info to your disadvantage at some point in the future

No Thanks Big Brother

deb3129

My employer has a program like this. It is not specifically a weight loss program, it is more of a general wellness program. They offered anyone who wanted them pedometers. The pedometers upload to work computers, and we can see how many steps that everyone who is participating in the county (I work for county government) is walking. It has been VERY motivational for me. I have been participating since June, and for every month except the first one, I have had the most steps every month out of everyone! I don't worry much about the privacy thing, because my insurance gets whatever health info they want from my doctor anyway, I am sure. It is a group insurance policy, so whatever info they get is not going to affect my rates. I don't think employers do it to try to spy on or keep up with employees, they do it because healthy employees are more productive employees!