For those of us who spend countless hours sitting in front of a computer screen, getting fat eating cheese danishes and washing them down with cup after cup of coffee, there is hope. A new trend is taking shape across the U.S.: company wellness incentives.

According to a CNN Money report: "Employee programs that promote healthy lifestyles with monetary carrots and sticks are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, 46 percent of employers offer incentive-based wellness plans, according to a recent study by Watson Wyatt and the National Business Group on Health, and that proportion is expected to grow to 70 percent by 2009."

Employers have figured out that giving financial incentives to keep their workers healthier actually saves them tons of money as employees call in sick much less. This is a classic win/ win situation; employers save money and employees get healthy.

Of course, there are those critics who warn that this could constitute a hostile work environment and is illegal. After all, no one can force an employee to lose weight or lead a healthier lifestyle. To those critics I say, lighten up! (couldn't resist).

For investors, companies like Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) are in this space. Aside from working with individuals, Healthways is also working with employers to create tailored-made programs for staff to help make them healthier.

With obesity a growing problem, it seems that employer wellness incentives are going to be more common place.

Aaron Katsman is the lead Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. and Senior Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com. DISCLOSURE: Writer's fund has no position in any stock mentioned, as of 7/7/08.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: eBay, Anworth Mortgage, Healthways, Coca-Cola and Mattel were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Soleil upgraded shares of eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) to Hold from Sell following the Q3 results due to improving near term fundamentals with diversification of revenue streams.
• JMP Securities raised estimates on Anworth Mortgage (NYSE: ANH) to Strong Buy from Market Outperform citing the lower cost of funding and the expected improvement in earnings.
  
• Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Broadpoint, as they believe the company's guidance implies it is well positioned into FY09.
  
• Gabelli upgraded shares of Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) to Buy from Hold as they believe strong international demand and the company's ability to execute will lead to double digit growth in coming years.
  
• Mattel (NYSE: MAT) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse. The firm views risk/reward as compelling.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• WestLB upgraded Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to Hold from Reduce.
  
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Thornburg Mortgage (NYSE: TMA) to Market Perform from Underperform.
  
• Merrill Lynch upgraded Repsol SA (NYSE: REP) and Palm (NASDAQ: PALM) to Buy from Neutral.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Starbucks Corporation, Brinker, Healthways and Fluor were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Banc of America downgraded Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) to Sell from Neutral, and lowered their target to $23 from $27, as they see downside risk to estimates due to slower growth. The firm is concerned that expectations for a near-term recovery are too high.
  
• Goldman downgraded Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) to Sell from Neutral citing macro economic pressure on sales.
  
• Credit Suisse downgraded Healthways Inc (NASDAQ: HWAY) to Neutral from Outperform on valuation.
  
• Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Morgan Joseph on valuation.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at WestLB.
  
• Goldman downgraded Cnooc Ltd (NYSE: CEO) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Credit Suisse downgraded Statoil (NYSE: STO) to Neutral from Outperform.
  
• GameStop Corp (NYSE: GME) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Cablevision Systems Corp (CVC), UAL Corp (UAUA), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), Darden Restaurants (DRI) and the food industry were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) to Hold from Sell with a $36 target to reflect the Dolan's bid for the company.

• Credit Suisse upgraded shares of UAL Corp (NASDAQ: UAUA) to Outperform from Neutral citing valuation and capacity reductions.

• Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Lehman Brothers citing valuation and potential upside in the pharma business.

• Bear Stearns raised Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) to Outperform from Peer Perform citing the announcement of the divestiture of Smokey Bones, which takes away a drag on earnings.

• Wachovia upgraded the food industry to Overweight from Equal Weight, saying food companies are beginning to drive higher prices through the supply chain and yields look attractive.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Susquehanna upgraded Healthways, Inc (NASDAQ: HWAY) to Positive from Neutral.

• Matrix USA raised Waste Connections, Inc (NYSE: WCN) to Hold from Sell.

• Buckingham raised DSW Inc (NYSE: DSW) to Accumulate from Neutral with a $46 target.

• Dusa Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ: DUSA) was upgraded to Hold from Sell at Roth Capital.

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Cemex ADS (NYSE: CX) to Buy from Hold with a $41 target.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).