The Corporate Responsibility in Shaping Health Equity

Navigating the Future of Workplace Wellness

In today’s rapidly evolving work landscape, the role of employers extends far beyond just providing a paycheck. Companies have the power to significantly influence the health and well-being of their employees. This influence encompasses not only physical health, but also mental and emotional well-being. Understanding and addressing the complex relationship between job conditions, unemployment, and health is paramount in fostering a healthier, more equitable society.

Why Health Equity Matters

Health equity is about ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. With such diverse populations, it’s nearly impossible to remove all obstacles to health for all individuals, but in the workplace, this translates to creating an environment where all employees have access to the resources and support they need to achieve their best health.

The Employer’s Role in Health Equity

Employers are uniquely positioned to drive health equity. However, despite the immense potential, employers often face significant obstacles in driving health equity within their organizations, including lack of awareness or understanding of the disparities that exist among employees, and limited resources or budget constraints that can hinder the development and implementation of comprehensive wellness programs. And in many cases, measuring the impact of health equity efforts can be complex, making it difficult to demonstrate the value and importance of these programs to stakeholders. 

Ultimately, offering end-to-end health programs and fostering an inclusive workplace culture, companies can help bridge the gap in health disparities, including providing education on health and nutrition, promoting physical activity, and addressing mental health needs.

At Noom, we integrate elements of health equity into our program to ensure we support all members in reaching their goals. Here’s how:

1. Promoting Health Literacy with Bite-Sized Education: Understanding health information is crucial for making informed decisions. Our bite-sized health and nutrition education modules are designed to be easily digestible and accessible to everyone. Our lessons are built from a 6th grade reading level to ensure the majority of the population can comprehend the information. And, we put members – at any stage of their journey – on a path that works for them, step-by-step, on their schedule. Whether they choose to read the information at their own pace, or listen to the modules on a walk or while running errands, these modules are snack-sized bits of information that add up to big, life-changing moments. By demystifying complex health concepts, we empower our members to take control of their health journeys.
2. Addressing Environmental Influences on Weight: Our environment plays a significant role in our health behaviors. We provide content that educates members on how their surroundings influence weight and overall health – like ways to prep meals for a conference, or what to order when you’re out at restaurants with friends and family. This also includes practical tips on how to make their environment work for them, covering aspects like safety, transportation, and access to recreational spaces and healthy food options. Offering recipe ideas and providing tools that suggest healthier ingredients helps put the power of choice in the hands of the user, instead of having to follow strict guidelines and track points.
3. Navigating Cultural Traditions: Cultural traditions can pose unique challenges to healthy eating. Through Noom’s educational courses and recipe finder, we offer guidance on how to honor these traditions while making healthier choices. Whether observing religious holidays or maintaining a specific diet based on cultural preferences, we’re able to keep people on their path to better health while also honoring their traditions. By understanding and respecting cultural diversity, we create a more inclusive and supportive program for all members. 
4. Building Social Support Systems: Community attitudes towards health behaviors and social support systems greatly impact individual health. How people engage in non-work activities, and their communities, is deeply tied to their health outcomes, both physical and mental. 
   • In a 2021 survey involving 3,485 participants who used Noom Weight (aged 18 to 50), we found considerable impact on respondents’ mental wellness, underscoring the amplifying power of its psychology-backed approach in driving behavioral change alongside weight loss. Many of the survey’s findings reveal statistically meaningful shifts across multiple areas of mental health, including anxiety levels decreasing by 14%, alleviating one of the most prevalent mental health challenges faced by employees in today’s high-stress professional environments, and often compounded by social situations.
   • Through Noom,members learn how to leverage their community for support and address issues of social isolation. Encouraging a sense of community among members fosters a supportive environment conducive to lasting health changes.
5. Tackling Food Affordability and Accessibility: Food deserts and other barriers to accessing healthy food are significant issues for many people. Grocery shopping can feel overwhelming when you’re on a budget; delivery services are costly and don’t always offer healthy options for swapping foods. Whether you’re dining for two, or a family of 5, everyone has different cravings and appetites. And these are just the tactical issues. Emotional eating is often connected to affordability and accessibility; quick-hit high-sodium high-fat foods are more frequently found at convenience stores and nearby markets. We need to ensure that everyone – regardless of money or location – can customize meal plans that take into account their budgets and dietary restrictions. Additionally, we recognize and offer guidance for navigating emotional eating and developing a healthier relationship with food. By addressing these barriers and providing practical solutions, Noom empowers individuals to make sustainable changes in their nutrition habits.

The Path Forward

By prioritizing health equity, employers can create a more inclusive, supportive, and productive workplace. It’s not just about providing resources, but also about fostering a culture where health and well-being are integral to the company’s values.

At Noom, we’re committed to supporting organizations in their quest to promote health equity. Our program is designed to address the unique needs of each individual, providing personalized support and education every step of the way.

Empower your employees with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive. Join us on this journey towards better health. Together, we can create a healthier, more equitable future for all.

Cody Fair is Noom’s Chief Commercial Officer. Having previously served as the Senior Vice President of Healthcare Sales and Services, as well as the Head of Employer Sales at Noom, Cody leads the company’s commercial division and drives growth initiatives across all segments. Prior to Noom, Cody worked at Springbuk, a healthcare data analytics company, where he played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of business development, mid-market sales, enterprise sales, and strategic accounts.