Study: Workplace Wellness Programs Oversold

A Rand Corporation study of one company’s wellness programs found mixed results when it measured a purported benefit of such programs: cost-savings. The seven-year study actually looked at two components of the wellness program at PepsiCo: “disease management” and “lifestyle management.” Disease management, which includes phone coaching for patients with chronic diseases including asthma, diabetes and hypertension, resulted in significant savings. But the lifestyle management program, which is closer to how most wellness programs are defined, didn’t significantly affect costs. The study did not attempt to measure actual health benefits from either program.