The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts recently issued a report on the astounding cost of obesity to Texas employers. According to the report, Counting Costs and Calories, “obesity cost Texas businesses an estimated $3.3 billion in 2005…this includes the cost of health care, absenteeism, decreased productivity and disability.”

Not only is the cost of obesity an astonishing figure, but so are the numbers of individuals who live with obesity every day. An estimated 64.1 percent of adults in the state of Texas are overweight or obese. With the number of obese adults increasing each and every year, the seriousness of this epidemic can no longer be ignored. Obese individuals have a higher percentage of acquiring costly chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea and asthma, which directly correlate to rising health care costs and skyrocketing health insurance premiums. Because education and prevention are the best methods to bring an end to this epidemic, the NIX Healthcare System wants to be a partner with your organization by offering the services of the NIX Weight Loss Surgery Center.

Obese individuals, who have attempted unsuccessfully to lose weight in the past, might be candidates for the LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System. Weight loss surgery might sound severe and drastic, but more dramatic is the $15.8 billion in annual costs that employers can expect by 2025 if the trend continues at its current pace.

Unlike other weight loss surgery options, the LAP-BAND is a minimally-invasive procedure that is performed laparoscopically, allowing for a quicker recovery and less complications. The LAP-BAND procedure continues to be the least-expensive surgical weight loss procedure, falling under the cost of gastric bypass in San Antonio by several thousand dollars. The NIX Weight Loss Surgery Center and the doctors at the center who perform the LAP-BAND surgery, hold the Center of Excellence designation from the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

We can no longer overlook the staggering statistics. We must be proactive and work together to educate and encourage healthier lifestyles. We would like the opportunity to discuss with you how we can help your organization reduce healthcare costs and employee absenteeism, while increasing employee morale and retention.

Please feel free to contact me directly for more information on how the NIX Weight Loss Surgery Center can benefit your employees and your organization.

Sincerely,

Trey Klawiter
Chief Operating Officer
NIX Health Care System
210-579-3070

Since 1930, the NIX Healthcare System has been a trusted servant to the San Antonio community. At the NIX, we are dedicated to making a difference and our saying stands true every day—Where patients are not just cared for, but are cared about.