Why Employee Wellness in South Africa Starts With Health Screening
- Abby Health
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
Employee wellness is no longer a “nice-to-have” in South Africa. With rising healthcare costs, high stress levels, and increasing cases of lifestyle diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, businesses are realising that a healthy workforce is directly linked to productivity and performance. One of the most effective ways to improve employee wellness is through regular health screening.
What is Employee Health Screening?
Employee health screening involves quick, non-invasive checks to measure key health indicators such as:
Blood pressure
Body mass index (BMI)
Body fat percentage
Blood oxygen levels (SpO₂)
Stress, mental health, and lifestyle risks
These screenings give employees valuable insights into their health while helping employers identify risks early.
Why Employee Health Screening Matters in South Africa
South Africa faces unique workplace health challenges. Many employees live with undiagnosed or untreated conditions, which can affect their wellbeing and job performance. By offering health screenings:
Employees feel cared for – boosting morale and engagement.
Employers reduce absenteeism – healthier staff take fewer sick days.
Medical costs go down – prevention is always cheaper than treatment.
Workplaces become safer – especially in industries like mining, manufacturing, and logistics.
Latest Stats: Obesity and High Blood Pressure in South Africa
The scale of lifestyle-related health issues in South Africa shows why employee wellness programmes are more important than ever.
Health Indicator | Latest Stats (2024–2025) | Key Trend | Source |
Adult Obesity – Women | 42.9% of women aged 18+ are obese | Rates remain among the highest in Africa |
Adult Obesity – Men | 18.2% of men aged 18+ are obese | Growing but lower than women |
Children under 5 years | Overweight/obesity rose from 13% (2016) → 23% (2024) | Sharp increase |
Children 5–19 years | Overweight rose to 21% and obesity to 7% by 2022 | Steady upward trend |
Hypertension (Self-reported) | 24% of adults overall (27.5% women, 20.4% men) | Many unaware of condition |
Awareness & Control | 91% of people with hypertension are undiagnosed, untreated, or uncontrolled | Major gap in prevention |
Awareness & Control | 91% of people with hypertension are undiagnosed, untreated, or uncontrolled | Major gap in prevention |
Why Body Fat is More Important
For years, BMI (Body Mass Index) has been the standard measure of health. But BMI only looks at weight relative to height. It doesn’t distinguish between muscle and fat, which means a fit, muscular person could be labelled “overweight”, while someone with low muscle mass but high fat could appear “healthy”.
This is why body fat percentage is now seen as a more accurate measure of health:
It reveals hidden risks: High body fat, especially around the waist, is strongly linked to heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
It tracks progress better: Employees focusing on fitness may lose fat but gain muscle, so their BMI might not change much – but body fat percentage will.
It motivates healthier habits: Seeing a reduction in body fat is a clear, visible win that encourages long-term lifestyle changes.
By measuring body fat instead of just BMI, companies get a more reliable picture of their employees’ health and can design wellness programmes that actually reduce risk and improve outcomes.
Non-Invasive Health Screening – No Needles, No Blood Tests
One of the biggest barriers to employee wellness programmes is participation. Many employees are put off by screenings that involve finger pricks or blood tests.
With Abby Health Stations, all screenings are completely non-invasive. That means:
No finger pricks
No needles
No waiting for lab results
Instead, Abby uses advanced, contact-based and digital methods to measure over 20 health indicators in just a few minutes. Employees feel more comfortable, which leads to higher participation rates and more reliable health data for employers.
How Abby Health Stations Make Screening Easy
Traditional health screenings often require nurses, paperwork, and long queues. That’s why many companies are moving to Abby Health Stations – smart, self-service health screening kiosks.
With an Abby Station, employees can complete a full health check in just a few minutes. Results are captured digitally, reducing errors and fraud, and employees can instantly access their results via email, SMS, or the Abby mobile app.
Key benefits of Abby Stations include:
Fast, accurate screenings (over 20 checks in 3 minutes, including body fat percentage)
100% non-invasive – no blood or finger pricks needed
Automatic data capture into wellness reports
Fraud-free, reliable health records
Engagement tools like Coach Abby, an AI health coach that guides employees on next steps
Building a Culture of Wellness
Screenings are just the start. By giving employees personalised insights and simple guidance, companies can create a culture where wellness is part of daily life, not just an annual event. When staff see progress in their health over time, motivation grows, and so does loyalty to the employer.
Final Thoughts
For businesses in South Africa, employee wellness programmes that include regular health screenings and body fat measurement are no longer optional – they are a must. With smart, non-invasive solutions like Abby Health Stations, it’s easier, faster, and more cost-effective than ever to support your team’s wellbeing while driving business results.
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