One Super Bowl ad stood out among the rest this year: Hims & Hers GLP-1 weight loss drug. It opens with “Obesity is America’s deadliest epidemic. 74% of us are overweight, and obesity leads to half a million deaths each year. Something’s broken, and it’s not our bodies; it’s the system.” 

Articles upon articles were written about this controversial ad. Negative opinions ranged from all sides: from the body positivity movement to GLP-1’s being viewed as the “easy way out.” And many dug deeper into their respective camps. But, this ad, while controversial, points out the largest trend that we are seeing in our society:  obesity and other chronic diseases are on the rise. The general lifestyle of the average American does not help this either.  

Let’s look at the data: 

  • 42% of all US Adults are affected by obesity 
  • By 2030, it’s projected that about half of the U.S. population (48.9%) will be considered obese, with nearly 1 in 4 (24.2%) classified as severely obese 
  • Approximately 14.7% of U.S. adults have diabetes, equating to about 38.4 million individuals. 
  • Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 941,652 deaths in 2022. 
  • Between 2017 and 2020, 127.9 million U.S. adults (48.6%) had some form of cardiovascular disease. 

The Hims & Hers ad looks to the systemic issues causing chronic conditions, specifically obesity. Money, time, sweat, and tears are poured into treating these chronic conditions. Weight loss, according to the ad, is a $160B industry. Chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and others account for 90% of the nation’s $4.5 trillion in annual healthcare expenditures.  

Treatment for chronic diseases is your second highest healthcare expense when it comes to your employees. The first? Muscle, bone, and joint disorders.  

Those with obesity have a higher load placed on their joints, leading to premature wear and tear. This also leads to pain and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.  

Diabetics are at a higher risk of diabetic neuropathy, tendon dysfunction, and osteoporosis. 

Heart disease is linked to reduced activity, muscle atrophy, and inflammation. 

Chronic conditions affect the body’s ability to move and feel its best day in and day out. This is not a small trend. It touches the lives of everyone- including your employees. Addressing bone, muscle, and joint care will not cure these chronic conditions, but they will improve your employees’ day-to-day lives. An employee in pain is an employee focused on their pain. This can lead to increased absenteeism, a loss of productivity, and a decline in job satisfaction. By providing them with muscle, bone, and joint care, they can thrive at work, at home, and while doing the things they love. 

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