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Go!: results from a quasi-experimental obesity prevention trial with hospital employees
- Source :
- BMC Public Health, BMC Public Health, Vol 16, Iss 1, Pp 1-16 (2016)
- Publication Year :
- 2016
- Publisher :
- BioMed Central, 2016.
-
Abstract
- 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 discussions 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 discussions 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 clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01585480) on April 24, 2012. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-2828-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
- Subjects :
- Gerontology
Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Waist
Psychological intervention
Cafeteria
Walking
Weight Gain
Occupational safety and health
Body Mass Index
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Weight loss
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Obesity
Workplace
Exercise
Occupational Health
030505 public health
biology
business.industry
Physical activity
lcsh:Public aspects of medicine
Public health
Prevention
Body Weight
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
lcsh:RA1-1270
Feeding Behavior
Middle Aged
biology.organism_classification
Worksite
Diet
Personnel, Hospital
Pedometer
Female
Perception
medicine.symptom
Biostatistics
Waist Circumference
0305 other medical science
business
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712458
- Volume :
- 16
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMC Public Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....938efd6e73b5d6e2015111cf5d9d2d1f