Economic evaluation of a worksite obesity prevention and intervention trial among hotel workers in Hawaii
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Richard T Meenan1, Thomas M Vogt, Andrew E Williams
1Science Programs Department, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR 97227, USA. richard.meenan@kpchr.org
Objective:
Economic evaluation of Work, Weight, and Wellness (3W), a 2-year randomized trial of a weight loss program delivered through Hawaii hotel worksites.
Methods:
Business case analysis from hotel perspective. Program resources were micro-costed (2008 dollars). Program benefits were reduced medical costs, fewer absences, and higher productivity. Primary outcome was discounted 24-month net present value (NPV).
Results:
Control program cost $222K to implement over 24 months ($61 per participant), intervention program cost $1.12M ($334). Including overweight participants (body mass index >25), discounted control NPV was -$217K; -$1.1M for intervention program. Presenteeism improvement of 50% combined with baseline 10% productivity shortfall required to generate positive 24-month intervention NPV.
Conclusions:
3W's positive clinical outcomes did not translate into immediate economic benefit for participating hotels, although modest cost savings were observed in the trial's second year.
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