["Fit4You"--A Programme for Prevention and Reduction of Overweight in Apprentices in the Workplace Setting]. A worksite obesity intervention: results from a group-randomized trial. HealthWorks: results of a multi-component group-randomized worksite environmental intervention trial for weight gain prevention The 5-10-25 challenge: an observational study of a web-based wellness intervention for a global workforce. The Working Healthy Project: a worksite health-promotion trial targeting physical activity, diet, and smoking. Worksite intervention effects on physical health: a randomized controlled trial. The (cost-)effectiveness of an individually tailored long-term worksite health promotion programme on physical activity and nutrition: design of a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial Implementing organizational physical activity and healthy eating strategies on paid time: process evaluation of the UCLA WORKING pilot study. Work, Weight, and Wellness: the 3W Program: a worksite obesity prevention and intervention trial. Worksite Opportunities for Wellness (WOW): effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors after 1 year. Go!: results from a quasi-experimental obesity prevention trial with hospital employees The Effects of a Worksite Chronic Disease Prevention Program Reducing obesity among employees of a manufacturing plant: translating the Diabetes Prevention Program to the workplace. Effects of a Worksite Program to Improve the Cardiovascular Health of Female Health Care Workers Worksite environment intervention to prevent obesity among metropolitan transit workers. Effect of individual counseling on physical activity fitness and health: a randomized controlled trial in a workplace setting. Longitudinal Outcomes of a Comprehensive, Incentivized Worksite Wellness Program
The effect of health promotion at the worksite for overweight adolescents is not known . This 2-year intervention study examined the effect of a multimodal programme including nutrition counselling , sport , and life-skill training on medical and psychological outcomes . The body mass index increased slightly less in the intervention group . Semistructured interviews at the end showed that participants are highly interested in health promotion at the worksite OBJECTIVES We used a participatory process to develop an obesity intervention appropriate for elementary school personnel . METHODS A r and omized controlled trial included 16 school worksites ( 8 intervention , 8 control ) .  Intervention schools formed committees to develop and implement health promotion activities for employees .  Anthropometric and self-report data were collected at baseline and postintervention ( 2 years later ) . The primary outcome measures were body mass index ( BMI ) , waist-hip ratio , physical activity , and fruit and vegetable consumption . RESULTS After adjustment for age , ethnicity , and job classification , employees in intervention schools reduced their BMI by an average of 0.04 kg/m2 , and those in control schools increased their BMI by an average of 0.37 kg/m2 . Comparisons for waist-hip ratio , weekly physical activity minutes , and fruit and vegetable consumption were not significant . CONCLUSIONS The participatory process appeared to be an effective means for stimulating change . The intervention may have slowed and perhaps reversed the tendency of adults to gain weight progressively with age Background U.S. adults are at unprecedented risk of becoming overweight or obese , and most scientists believe the primary cause is an obesogenic environment . Worksites provide an opportunity to shape the environments of adults to reduce obesity risk . The goal of this group-r and omized trial was to implement a four-component environmental intervention at the worksite level to positively influence weight gain among employees over a two-year period . Environmental components focused on food availability and price , physical activity promotion , scale access , and media enhancements . Methods Six worksites in a U.S. metropolitan area were recruited and r and omized in pairs at the worksite level to either a two-year intervention or a no-contact control . Evaluations at baseline and two years included : 1 ) measured height and weight ; 2 ) online surveys of individual dietary intake and physical activity behaviors ; and 3 ) detailed worksite environment assessment . Results Mean participant age was 42.9 years ( range 18 - 75 ) , 62.6 % were women , 68.5 % were married or cohabiting , 88.6 % were white , 2.1 % Hispanic . Mean  baseline BMI  was 28.5 kg/m2 ( range 16.9 - 61.2 kg/m2 ) . A majority of intervention components were successfully implemented . However , there were no differences between sites in the key outcome of weight change over the two-year study period ( p = .36 ) . Conclusions Body mass was not significantly affected by environmental changes implemented for the trial . Results raise questions about whether environmental change at worksites is sufficient for population weight gain prevention . Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov : We conducted and evaluated a 4-year ,  web-based wellness program involving 2498 global employees . The program was design ed to encourage improvement in diet , exercise level , and weight control . Each month , after enrollment , participants were prompted to log on and enter personal data . Four years ' worth of nonparametric data were analyzed . Seventy-seven percent of participants were men , 53 % were overweight or obese , and mean beginning body mass index ( BMI ) was 25.9 . Only 35 % of starting participants ate five or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily , and fewer than 38 % engaged in 30 min of activity or 10,000 steps . At the end of the intervention , there was a statistically significant ( p < 0.05 ) improvement in the diet , exercise habits , and weight of participants . Results suggests that our web-based wellness intervention was successful in improving key health indicators for a mobile , global workforce Worksites are a key channel for delivery of interventions design ed to reduce chronic disease among adult population s. Although some evaluations of worksite physical-activity interventions have been conducted , to date very few r and omized trials of worksite health promotion have included the goal of increasing physical-activity levels as part of a comprehensive multiple risk factor approach to worksite health promotion . This article presents the results regarding behavior change found among the cohort of 2055 individuals who completed three health-behavior assessment s as part of their worksites ' participation in The Working Healthy Project ( WHP ) , a multiple risk factor intervention implemented in 26 manufacturing worksites . In this study , a r and omized matched-pair design was used . Fifty-one percent ( n = 2,761 ) of the employees who completed the baseline assessment also completed the interim survey . Eighty-three percent of those who completed the interim assessment also completed the final survey . The WHP intervention targeted smoking , nutrition , and physical activity . At baseline , 38 % of the sample reported engaging in regular exercise , and subjects reported consuming an average of 2.7 servings of fruits and vegetables per day , 7.9 grams of fiber per 1000 kilocalories , and 35.4 % calories from fat per day ; 28 % of the sample were smokers . By the time of both the interim ( intervention midpoint ) and final ( end of intervention ) assessment s , participants in the intervention condition had significantly increased their exercise behavior , compared with the control condition . There was also increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and fiber in the intervention condition by the time of the final assessment , compared with the control condition . No differences by condition were found with regard to percentage of calories from fat consumed or smoking cessation . These results suggest that among a cohort of participants in a worksite health promotion study , there were significant health behavior changes across two risk factors over time . These data suggest that further investigation of multiple risk factor worksite health promotion is warranted , particularly with a focus on ways to increase participation in these programs and to diffuse intervention effects throughout the entire workforce Overweight and physical inactivity are risk factors for increased disease burden and health care expenditure . Well- design ed studies are still needed to determine the treatment efficacy of worksite interventions targeting such risk factors . This r and omized controlled trial was conducted at one of Australia 's casinos in 2002 - 2003 , to investigate the effects of a comprehensive exercise and lifestyle intervention on physical fitness . Only 6.4 % of the workforce expressed interest in being study participants . Seventy-three employees ( aged 32 + /- 8 years , 51 % overweight/obese , 73 % shift workers and 52 % women ) were recruited and r and omized to treatment or wait-list control groups for 24 weeks , 44 of whom completed the intervention . Components of the intervention include supervised moderate-to-high intensity exercise including combined aerobic ( at least 20 min duration 3 days/week ) and weight-training ( for an estimated 30 min completed 2 - 3 days/week ) , and dietary/health education ( delivered via group seminars , one-on-one counselling and literature through the provision of a worksite manual ) . ANCOVA , by intention-to-treat and of study completers , found significant between-group differences in the mean waist circumference and predicted maximal oxygen uptake ( VO2max ) , favouring the intervention , but effects were concentrated in one subject . For study completers , between-group differences in the mean waist circumference ( 82.3 + /- 9.2 versus 90.5 + /- 17.8 cm , p = 0.01 ) and predicted VO2max ( 47 versus 41 ml/kg/min , p < 0.001 ) remained significant without the outlier , favouring the intervention . Higher intervention compliance predicted greater improvements in physical fitness . No significant effects on body mass or body mass index were found . This worksite intervention significantly improved waist circumference and aerobic fitness in healthy but sedentary employees , most of whom were shift workers .  Worksite interventions have the potential to counter the increasing burden of overweight and obesity , particularly visceral adiposity , as well as physical inactivity ; however , substantial barriers to adoption/adherence need to be overcome for greater feasibility and impact on employee physical health Background Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of disability and mortality in most Western countries . The prevalence of several risk factors , most notably low physical activity and poor nutrition , is very high . Therefore , lifestyle behaviour changes are of great importance . The worksite offers an efficient structure to reach large groups and to make use of a natural social network . This study investigates a worksite health promotion programme with individually tailored advice in physical activity and nutrition and individual counselling to increase compliance with lifestyle recommendations and sustainability of a healthy lifestyle . Methods / Design The study is a pragmatic cluster r and omised controlled trial with the worksite as the unit of r and omisation . All workers will receive a st and ard worksite health promotion program .  Additionally , the intervention group will receive access to an individual Health Portal consisting of four critical features : a computer-tailored advice , a monitoring function , a personal coach , and opportunities to contact professionals at request . Participants are employees working for companies in the Netherl and s , being literate enough to read and underst and simple Internet-based messages in the Dutch language .A question naire to assess primary outcomes ( compliance with national recommendations on physical activity and on fruit and vegetable intake ) will take place at baseline and after 12 and 24 months . This question naire also assesses secondary outcomes including fat intake , self-efficacy and self-perceived barriers on physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake . Other secondary outcomes , including a cardiovascular risk profile and physical fitness , will be measured at baseline and after 24 months . Apart from the effect evaluation , a process evaluation will be carried out to gain insight into participation and adherence to the worksite health promotion programme . A cost-effectiveness analysis and sensitivity analysis will be carried out as well . Discussion The unique combination of features makes the individually tailored worksite health promotion programme a promising tool for health promotion . It is hypothesized that the Health Portal 's features will counteract loss to follow-up , and will increase compliance with the lifestyle recommendations and sustainability of a healthy lifestyle . Trial registration Current Controlled Trials IS RCT N52854353 Integrating organizationally targeted wellness strategies into the routine conduct of business has shown promise in engaging captive audiences at highest risk of obesity and obesity-related health consequences . This paper presents a process evaluation of the implementation of the University of California , Los Angeles , Working Out Regularly Keeps Individuals Nurtured and Going ( WORKING ) pilot study . WORKING focuses on integrating physical activity and nutrition practice s into workplace routine during non-discretionary paid work time . The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the quality of implementation and to underst and factors that facilitated or hindered organizations ' full uptake of the intervention . Fifteen worksites were r and omly assigned to an intervention condition . Qualitative data were gathered through routine site visits and informant interviews conducted throughout each worksite 's intervention period . Worksites were classified into one of four implementation success categories based on their level of adoption and maintenance of core intervention strategies . Six key factors emerged that were related to implementation success : site layout and social climate , wellness infrastructure , number and influence of Program Champions , leadership involvement , site innovation and creativity . This pilot study has informed the conduct of WORKING II ; a cluster r and omized controlled trial aim ed at enrolling 60 - 70 worksites in Los Angeles County OBJECTIVE In this paper , we describe the aims , intervention , and design of the Work , Weight , and Wellness program , a group-r and omized worksite obesity prevention and intervention trial being conducted at 31 hotels with 11,559 employees on the isl and of Oahu in Hawaii . We report baseline prevalence of overweight and obesity , and the distribution of BMI ( kilograms per meter squared ) across sex , race , and job categories . We also describe factors that have influenced intervention adoption and employee participation . RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES The study 's primary outcome is change in BMI among hotel employees over a 2-year intervention period . The intervention includes environmental and group components that target diet , physical activity , and weight management .  RESULTS Men , Pacific Isl and ers , and individuals employed in managerial or facility maintenance roles had higher prevalence of obesity and higher mean BMI than women and individuals from other races or in other occupational categories . DISCUSSION These results may be helpful in guiding choices about the adoption or design of future worksite and community interventions addressing at-risk ethnically diverse population s and are especially relevant to the hotel industry and similar industries OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of a worksite health promotion program on improving cardiovascular disease risk factors . METHODS In St Louis , Missouri from 2005 to 2006 , 151 employees ( 134 F , 17 M , 81 % overweight/obese ) participated in a cohort-r and omized trial comparing assessment s + intervention ( worksite A ) with assessment s only ( worksite B ) for 1 year . All participants received personal health reports containing their assessment results . The intervention was design ed to promote physical activity and favorable dietary patterns using pedometers , healthy snack cart , WeightWatchers(R ) meetings , group exercise classes , seminars , team competitions , and participation rewards . Outcomes included BMI , body composition , blood pressure , fitness , lipids , and Framingham 10-year coronary heart disease risk . RESULTS 123 participants , aged 45+/-9 yr , with BMI 32.9+/-8.8 kg/m(2 ) completed 1 year . Improvements ( P < or = 0.05 ) were observed at both worksites for fitness , blood pressure , and total- , HDL- , and LDL-cholesterol . Additional improvements occurred at worksite A in BMI , fat mass , Framingham risk score , and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome ; only the changes in BMI and fat mass were different between worksites . CONCLUSION A multi-faceted worksite intervention promoted favorable changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors , but many of the improvements were achieved with worksite health assessment s and personalized health reports in the absence of an intervention Background Worksite obesity prevention interventions using an ecological approach may hold promise for reducing typical weight gain . The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Go ! , an innovative 12-month multi-component worksite obesity prevention intervention . Methods A quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design was utilized ; 407 eligible hospital employees ( intervention arm ) and 93 eligible clinic employees ( comparison arm ) participated . The intervention involved pedometer distribution , labeling of all foods in the worksite cafeteria and vending machines ( with calories , step equivalent , and a traffic light based on energy density signaling recommended portion ) , persuasive messaging throughout the hospital , and the integration of influential employees to reinforce healthy social norms .  Changes in weight , BMI , waist circumference , physical activity , and dietary behavior after 6 months and 1 year were primary outcomes . Secondary outcomes included knowledge , perceptions of employer commitment to employee health , availability of information about diet , exercise , and weight loss , perceptions of coworker support and frequency of health discussion s with coworkers . A process evaluation was conducted as part of the study . Results Repeated measures ANCOVA indicated that neither group showed significant increases in weight , BMI , or waist circumference over 12 months . The intervention group showed a modest increase in physical activity in the form of walking , but decreases in fruit and vegetable servings and fiber intake . They also reported significant increases in knowledge , information , perceptions of employer commitment , and health discussion s with peers . Employees expressed positive attitudes towards all components of the Go ! intervention . Conclusions This low-intensity intervention was well-received by employees but had little effect on their weight over the course of 12 months . Such results are consistent with other worksite obesity prevention studies using ecological approaches . Implementing low-impact physical activity ( e.g. , walking , stair use ) may be more readily incorporated into the worksite setting than more challenging behaviors of altering dietary habits and increasing more vigorous forms of physical activity . Trial Registration This study was registered with clinical trials.gov ( NCT01585480 ) on April 24 , 2012 Objective : This study determined the behavioral and clinical impact of a worksite chronic disease prevention program . Methods : Working adults participated in r and omized clinical trial of an intensive lifestyle intervention . Nutrition and physical activity behavior and several chronic disease risk factors were assessed at baseline , 6 weeks , and 6 months . Results : Cognitive underst and ing of the requirements for a healthy lifestyle increased at the end of the program . Program participants significantly improved their cognitive underst and ing of good nutrition and physical activity and had significantly better nutrition and physical activity behavior at both 6 weeks and 6 months . Participants had significantly lower body fat , blood pressure , and cholesterol . Conclusions : This worksite chronic disease prevention program can significantly increase health knowledge , can improve nutrition and physical activity , and can improve many employee health risks in the short term Obesity affects individuals physically and emotionally , contributing to direct and indirect employer costs . Targeted obesity interventions through the Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Core Curriculum offered at the worksite could promote healthy lifestyle decisions result ing in weight improvement among overweight and obese employees . A pretest-posttest cohort design was used to evaluate changes in weight and body mass index among 35 Diabetes Prevention Program participants ; they achieved statistically significant changes in body weight ( p < .001 ) and body mass index ( p < .001 ) . As a process measure , Diabetes Prevention Program session attendance moderately correlated with weight loss ( r = .51 ; p = .002 ) . Many health care professionals , including occupational health nurses , can implement evidence -based worksite obesity interventions to support employee weight loss PURPOSE : Reducing cardiovascular risk for female health care workers supports self-care and facilitates a culture of health promotion . We examined the effect of individualized motivational communications on risk and measured program participation at a busy hospital , utilizing cardiac rehabilitation re sources . METHODS : Women ( 40 - 65 years old ) who self-identified as having increased cardiovascular risk and ready for change were r and omly assigned to weekly motivational counseling or control . All participants were offered classes ( weight/diet , stress , exercise , and smoking cessation ) and gym access .  Physical and perceptual measures were recorded before and after the 6-month program to measure change . Followup 1 year later measured current weight , stress , and physical activity . RESULTS : Participants ( n = 57 ) ranked weight as their greatest concern ( 42 % ) . Compared with control , the intervention group result ed in greater : weight loss ( 7.2 vs 3.8 pounds ) ; stress reduction ( 6.5 vs 4.7 ; Cohen stress scale ) ; and exercise days per week ( 1.4 vs 1.2 ) . Differences were not statistically significant in this small sample , but all changes consistently favored the intervention . Program participation was low , as was participation in the 1-year followup , although those responding indicated maintenance or further improvement . CONCLUSIONS : These consistent and positive findings are promising but only suggestive because of the small sample size . Future studies should focus on how to get more buy-in from employees , to help insure persistence toward health goals . Study results assisted development of a comprehensive Web-based employee wellness motivational program to address the issues of on-site participation . Attention to health risks in health care workers remains an important area of study OBJECTIVE The results of an 18-month worksite intervention to prevent obesity among metropolitan transit workers are reported . METHODS Four garages in a major metropolitan area were r and omized to intervention or control groups . Data were collected during the fall of 2005 prior to the start of the intervention and during the fall of 2007 , after the intervention ended . Intervention program components at the garage included enhancement of the physical activity facilities , increased availability of and lower prices on healthy vending machine choices , and group behavioral programs . Mixed model estimates from cross-sectional and cohort sample s were pooled with weights inverse to the variance of their respective estimates of the intervention effects . RESULTS Measurement  participation rates were 78 % at baseline and 74 % at follow-up . The intervention effect on garage mean BMI change was not significant ( -0.14 kg/m(2 ) ) . Energy intake decreased significantly , and fruit and vegetable intake increased significantly in intervention garages compared to control garages . Physical activity change was not significant . CONCLUSION Worksite environmental interventions for nutrition and physical activity behavior change may have limited impact on BMI among transit workers who spend most of their workday outside the worksite BACKGROUND Physical inactivity and obesity are major public health problems . Our objective was to investigate the effectiveness of an individual counseling intervention at the workplace on physical activity fitness and health . Counseling content derived from the Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise and Nutrition ( PACE ) program . METHODS A total of 299 employees of three municipal services in the Dutch town of Enschede were r and omly allocated into intervention ( n = 131 ) and control group ( n = 168 ) . Over a 9-month period , intervention group subjects were offered seven counseling sessions . Counseling was based on the individual 's stage of behavioral change using PACE physical activity and nutrition protocol s. Subjects in both the intervention and control group received written information about several lifestyle factors . Primary outcome measures were physical activity ( total energy expenditure , during sports activities , during physical activity leisure time other than sports , and meeting the moderate-intensity public health recommendations ) ; cardiorespiratory fitness ; and prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms . Secondary outcome measures were body composition ( body mass index [ BMI ] , and percentage of body fat measured via skinfold thicknesses ) ; blood pressure ; and blood cholesterol . RESULTS There were significant positive effects on total energy expenditure , physical activity during sports , cardiorespiratory fitness , percentage of body fat , and blood cholesterol . No effects were found for the proportion of subjects meeting the public health recommendation of moderate-intensity physical activity , physical activity during leisure time other than sports , prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms , body mass index , and blood pressure . CONCLUSIONS Individual face-to-face counseling at the workplace based on PACE protocol s positively influenced physical activity levels and some components of physical fitness . The implementation of workplace counseling programs for individuals should therefore be promoted This study evaluated health benefits of long-term participation in an employer-based wellness program  , focusing on selected chronic disease risk factors . A repeated measures longitudinal time-series study was conducted of 8 years of existing prospect ively collected annual data , including clinical measures of weight , blood pressure , cholesterol , and body fat percent . Participants were divided into their risk levels at baseline . Outcomes were compared to level of participation , for which annual points earned was a surrogate . Participants had lower increases in body mass index ( BMI ) than the general population had during the same time period . Greatest improvements in BMI , blood pressure , and cholesterol were seen in those at highest risk levels at baseline and in those whose physical activity increased over time . It was found that long-term participation in this program improved BMI , blood pressure , and cholesterol . Most benefits were found for those in high-risk groups . This program should recruit more employees in high health risk categories and emphasize retention and increased levels of participation
Programs that had professionals frequently interact with participants , regardless if the interactions were done daily , weekly , or monthly , led to a change in body composition .
Additionally , programs that incorporated a motivation theory and provided content relevant to participants ' needs result ed in a change in body composition .
Conclusion Evidence supports that future worksite wellness programs that are design ed using a motivational theory and content that is created relevant to participants ' needs and that has frequent interactions with participants may result in a change in body composition
Background Adult obesity is globally recognized as a public health concern .
As adults spend most of their weekdays at work , worksite wellness programs may include topics of nutrition education and physical activity to improve an employee 's body composition .
However , results are inconsistent with the impact they have on employees ' body composition .
Objective The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate  worksite wellness nutrition and physical activity programs and their subsequent impact on participants ' body composition .