Despite the recession and recent cutbacks in some benefit programs, companies continue to add wellness and health management programs to promote healthier behaviors among their workers, according to a new survey by Watson Wyatt, a global consulting firm, and the National Business Group on Health (NBGH), an association of more than 300 mostly large employers.

Companies are discovering greater success by offering workers financial incentives for participation in these programs.

Nearly six in ten companies (58 percent) offer lifestyle improvement programs, up from 43 percent in 2007, while 56 percent offer health coaches compared with 44 percent in 2007. The number of weight management programs is also on the rise, offered by 52 percent of companies, up from 42 percent in 2007. Also, health risk appraisals are offered by 80 percent of companies, up from 72 percent in 2007, according to the survey of 489 large U.S. employers conducted in January.

Companies that offer financial incentives report significantly higher participation in lifestyle management and wellness programs, according to the survey. But employee participation in some wellness programs remains low.

Despite the rapid rise in obesity across the U.S., 40 percent of companies report that less than five percent of their workers participate in weight management programs.

And many companies struggle to track participation in their wellness and health management programs.

Incentives for health risk appraisals are on the rise, offered by 61 percent of employers, up from 53 percent in 2008. Other programs that frequently offer incentives to encourage use include those for smoking cessation (offered by 40 percent of employers in both 2008 and 2009), weight management (offered by 34 percent of employers, up from 31 percent in 2008) and full coverage of preventive services (offered by 73 percent, up from 53 percent last year).

According to the survey, even moderate incentives can help engage employees in healthy behaviors. Financial incentives between $51 and $100 can boost participation in smoking cessation and weight management programs and encourage workers to get biometric screenings. Higher participation in health risk appraisals is associated with incentives greater than $100. However, financial incentives have limited impact on participation in disease management programs.

“The relationship between the amount of the incentive and the level of program participation among employees is strong,” said Sherri Potter, senior group and health care consultant at Watson Wyatt. “A properly structured incentive program does much more than protect investments in health management; it creates a healthier and more productive workforce.”

To view the 14th annual NBGH/Watson Wyatt report, visit www.watsonwyatt.com/2009nbghsurvey.