Obesity and excess weight cost U.S. businesses and employees an estimated $425.5 billion last year, a new report from data and analytics company GlobalData found.

"As a nation, we are all paying a high price for obesity," said Sally Greenberger, president of the National Consumers League. "Yet when people with obesity get treated according to medical guidelines, their health outcomes often improve, producing cost savings for employers and payers."

Obesity is a major public health challenge with profound implications for employers, the report said. Researchers estimate that approximately 3 in 10 working adults are classified as obese and one-third meet the criteria for being overweight. Excess body weight is strongly linked to a heightened risk of chronic disease, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain cancers and other health conditions.