With health care costs projected to continue rising, more organizations have turned to wellness programs as a way to strike a balance between becoming more efficient and offering benefits that will attract top talent.

A Deloitte 2011 "Top Five Total Rewards Priorities Survey" found that over the next one to three years some 60% of consumers who are employed indicated they plan to actively participate in wellness and disease management programs to maximize their health status. Many were concerned with being able to afford health care in retirement and equated the long-term advantages of good health as a sound retirement investment.

According to the CDC, nationally 65% of people are overweight or obese, and many struggle with associated physical conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. In addition, the Wellness Council of America has found that a $1 investment in a wellness program saves $3 in health care costs. At a time when employers are looking for ways to trim the fat off budgets, experts suggested the time may be right for employers to determine if a wellness program is for them.