you have a healthy workforce that is ready to work, it makes good sense to your bottom line,” she said.

Like these Texas businesses, state government offices, including Combs’s department of 2,800 employees, have instituted wellness policies. These policies include up to 16 hours of time off per year for physical activity, Weight Watchers programs, pedometer contests, and delivery of fresh farm food to the workplace, among other strategies. Combs and Nelson are currently discussing ways to incentivize other businesses in Texas to follow models of worksite wellness.

Combs, S. 2007 Counting Costs and Calories: Measuring the Cost of Obesity to Texas Employers. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/obesitycost/96-1245costs calories.pdf (accessed October 5, 2009).