Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Do overweight workers profit by workplace health promotion, more than their normal-weight peers? Evaluation of a worksite intervention

Authors: Stefanie Mache, Sarah Jensen, Stefan Linnig, Reimo Jahn, Mirco Steudtner, Elke Ochsmann, Geraldine Preuß

Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Worksite health promotion programs have been identified as strongly effective in decreasing body weight and increasing awareness and change in health behavior. Aim of this study is to determine the effects of a multi-component intervention in workplace health promotion.

Methods

In a controlled study trail, 1,573 workers of a logistics company had the chance to participate in a one year worksite health promotion program. Main elements of the multi-component intervention were physical activity training in combination with nutrition counseling. Employees completed a questionnaire at baseline and then again after twelve month. Main outcome variables were changes in body weight and health behaviors. Secondary outcomes were subjective health indicators.

Results

Our results showed preliminary improvements in physical activity and eating behavior among normal weight and overweight/obesity weight groups. No significant weight reduction could be found, only a minimal reduction of BMI. The reduction was larger in the overweight group. Workers considered overweight or obese showed significantly greater body weight loss and changes in eating behavior than workers with a normal weight status. Workers with obesity/overweight scored their general health status significantly lower than their colleagues with normal weight status. No significant improvements were found for overall perception of health status between baseline and follow-up in the BMI-groups.

Conclusion

This 12-month intervention-control study suggests that a well-implemented multi-component workplace health promotion program may support substantial change in health behavior (e.g. nutrition and physical activity). It is indicated that overweight employees may especially profit from such worksite health promotion. An investigation of long-term effects of this multi-component intervention is strongly recommended.
Literature
1.
Finucane MM, Stevens GA, Cowan MJ, Danaei G, Lin JK, Paciorek CJ. National, regional, and global trends in body-mass index since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 960 country-years and 9.1 million participants. Lancet. 2011;377:557–67.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
2.
World Health Organization W. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic: report of a WHO consultation. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2000.
3.
Peeters A, Barendregt JJ, Willekens F, Mackenbach JP, Al Mamun A, Bonneux L. Obesity in adulthood and its consequences for life expectancy: a life-table analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:24–32.PubMedCrossRef
4.
5.
Graf C, Ferrari N, Eiser S. Obesity- status quo and therapeutic approaches. MMW Fortschr Med. 2013;155:91–4.PubMedCrossRef
6.
World Health Organization W. Global health risk: mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009.
7.
Berghoefer A, Pischon T, Reinhold E. Obesity prevalence from a European perspective:a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2008;8:200.CrossRef
8.
Mensink GBM, Schienkiewitz A, Haftenberger M, Lampert T, Ziese T, Scheidt-Nave C. Overweight and obesity in Germany, Results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1). Bundesgesundheitsbl. 2013;56:786–94.CrossRef
9.
Gates DM, Succop P, Brehm BJ, Gillespie GL, Sommers BD. Obesity and presenteeism: the impact of body mass index on workplace productivity. J Occup Environ Med. 2008;50:39–45.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Van Duijvenbode DC, Hoozemans MJM, Van Poppel MNM, Proper KI. The relationship between overweight and obesity, and sick leave: a systematic review. Int J Obes. 2009;33:807–16.CrossRef
11.
Soeliman FA, Azadbakht L. Weight loss maintenance: A review on dietary related strategies. J Res Med Sci. 2014;19:268–75.PubMedCentralPubMed
12.
French SA, Story M, Jeffery RW. Environmental influences on eating and physical activity. Annu Rev Public Health. 2001;22:309–35.PubMedCrossRef
13.
Faith MS, Kral TVE: Social Environmental and Genetic Influences on Obesity and Obesity-Promoting Behaviors: Fostering Research Integration. National Academies Press (US): Washington; 2006.
14.
Hill JO, Wyatt HR, Reed GW, Peters JC. Obesity and the environment: where do we go from here? Science. 2003;1:299–853.
15.
Peters JC, Wyatt HR, Donahoo WT, Hill JO. From instinct to intellect: the challenge of maintaining healthy weight in the modern world. Obes Rev. 2002;3:69–74.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Hill JO. Understanding and addressing the epidemic of obesity: an energy balance perspective. Endocr Rev. 2006;27:750–61.PubMedCrossRef
17.
Beresford SA, Locke E, Bishop S, West B, McGregor BA, Bruemmer B, et al. Worksite study promoting activity and changes in eating (PACE): design and baseline results. Obesity. 2007;1:4S–15S.CrossRef
18.
Bamberg E, Ducki A, Metz A. Handbuch Betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung. Verlag für Angewandte Psychologie: Göttingen; 1998.
19.
Harden A, Peersman G, Oliver S, Mauthner M, Oakley A. A systematic review of the effectiveness of health promotion interventions in the workplace. Occup Med. 1999;49:540–8.CrossRef
20.
McLellan RK, Mackenzie TA, Tilton PA, Dietrich AJ, Comi RJ, Feng YY. Impact of workplace sociocultural attributes on participation in health assessments. J Occup Environ Med. 2009;51:797–803.PubMedCrossRef
21.
McTigue KM, Hess R, Ziouras J. Obesity in older adults: a systematic review of the evidence for diagnosis and treatment. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006;14:1485–97.CrossRef
22.
Proper KI, Koning M, van der Beek AJ, Hildebrandt VH, Bosscher RJ. The effectiveness of worksite physical activity programs on physical activity, physical fitness, and health. Clin J Sport Med. 2003;13:106–17.PubMedCrossRef
23.
Vuillemin A, Rostami C, Maes L, Van Cauwenberghe E, Van Lenthe FJ, Brug J, et al. Worksite physical activity interventions and obesity: a review of European studies (the HOPE project). Obes Facts. 2011;4:479–88.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Maes L, Van Cauwenberghe E, Van Lippevelde W, Spittaels H, De Pauw E, Oppert JM, et al. Effectiveness of workplace interventions in Europe promoting healthy eating: a systematic review. Eur J Public Health. 2012;22:677–83.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Mills PR, Kessler RC, Cooper J, Sullivan S. Impact of a health promotion program on employee health risks and work productivity. Am J Health Promot. 2007;22:45–53.PubMedCrossRef
26.
Dlugosch GE. Gesundheitsberatung. In: Schwenkmezger P, Schmidt LR, editors. Lehrbuch der Gesundheitspsychologie. Stuttgart: Enke; 1992. p. 222–33.
27.
Prochaska JO, Velicer WF, Redding CA, Rossi JS, Goldstein M, DePue J. Stage-based expert systems to guide a population of primary care patients to quit smoking, eat healthier, prevent skin cancer and receive regular mammograms. Prev Med. 2005;41:406–16.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Diehl JM, Staufenbiel T. Inventar zum Essverhalten und Gewichtsproblemen IEG. Klotz: Eschborn; 1999.
29.
Nuebling M, Hasselhorn HM. The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire in Germany: from the validation of the instrument to the formation of a job-specific database of psychosocial factors at work. Scand J Public Health. 2010;38:120–4.PubMedCrossRef
30.
Kwak L, Kremers SP, Visscher TL, van Baak MA, Brug J. Behavioral and cognitive effects of a worksite-based weight gain prevention program: the NHF-NRG in balance-project. J Occup Environ Med. 2009;51(12):1437–46.
31.
Brehm BJ, Gates DM, Singler M, Succop PA, D'Alessio DA. Environmental changes to control obesity: a randomized controlled trial in manufactering companies. Am J Health Promot. 2011;25:334–40.PubMedCrossRef
32.
Anderson LM, Quinn TA, Glanz K, Ramirez G, Kahwati LC, Johnson DB. The effectiveness of worksite nutrition and physical activity interventions for controlling employee overweight and obesity: a systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2009;37(4):340–57.
33.
Christensen JR, Faber A, Ekner D, Overgaard K, Holtermann A, Sogaard K. Diet, physical exercise and cognitive behavioral training as a combined workplace based intervention to reduce body weight and increase physical capacity in health care workers - a randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:671.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
34.
Franz MJ, VanWormer JJ, Crain AL, Boucher JL, Histon T, Caplan W, et al. Weight-loss outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of weight-loss clinical trials with a minimum 1-year follow-up. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007;107:1755–67.PubMedCrossRef
35.
van Berkel J, Boot C, Proper KI, Bongers BM, van der Beek AJ. Effectiveness of a worksite mindfulness-based multi-component intervention on lifestyle behaviors. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11:9.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
36.
Westenhoefer J. The therapeutic challenge: behavioral changes for long-term weight maintenance. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001;25:85–8.CrossRef
37.
Scheers T, Philippaerts R, Lefevre J. Patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior in normal-weight, overweight and obeseadults, as measured with a portable armband device and an electronic diary. Clin Nutr. 2012;31:756–64.PubMedCrossRef
38.
Simon C, Schweitzer B, Oujaa M, Wagner A, Arveiler D, Triby E, et al. Successful overweight prevention in adolescents by increasing physical activity: a 4-year randomized controlled intervention. Int J Obes. 2008;32:1489–98.CrossRef
39.
Brand R, Schlicht W, Grossman K, Duhnsen R. Effects of a physical exercise intervention on employees'perceptions quality of life: a randomized controlled trial. Soz Praeventivmed. 2006;51:14–23.CrossRef
40.
Sternfeld B, Block C, Quesenberry CP, Block TJ, Husson G, Norris JC, et al. Improving diet and physical activity with ALIVE: a worksite randomized trial. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36:475–83.PubMedCrossRef
41.
Young DR, Jerome GJ, Chen C, Laferriere D, Vollmer WM. Patterns of physical activity among overweight and obese adults. Prev Chronic Dis. 2009;6:90.
42.
Weinstock RS, Dai H, Wadden TA. Diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity: effects of 3 interventions on insulin resistance. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:2477–83.PubMedCrossRef
43.
Duvigneaud N, Wijndaele K, Matton L, Philippaerts R, Lefevre J, Thomis M, et al. Dietary factors associated with obesity indicators and level of sports participation in Flemish adults: a cross-sectional study. Nutr J. 2007;6:26.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
44.
Ortega RM, Requejo AM, Andres P, Lopez-Sobaler AM, Redondo R, Gonzalez-Fernandez M. Relationship between diet composition and body mass index in a group of Spanish adolescents. Br J Nutr. 1995;74:765–73.PubMed
45.
Hutchinson AD, Wilson C. Improving nutrition and physical activity in the workplace: a meta-analysis of intervention studies. Health Promot Int. 2012;27:238–49.PubMedCrossRef
46.
Walseth LT, Abildsnes E, Schei E. Lifestyle, health and the ethics of good living, Health behaviour counselling in general practice. Patient Educ Couns. 2011;83:180–4.PubMedCrossRef
47.
Zinn C, Schofield GM, Hopkins WG. A "small-changes" workplace weight loss and maintenance program: examination of weight and health outcomes. J Occup Environ Med. 2012;54:1230–8.PubMedCrossRef
48.
Simon C, Schweitzer B, Oujaa M, Wagner A, Arveiler D, Triby E, et al. Successful overweight prevention in adolescents by increasing physical activity: a 4-year randomized controlled intervention. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008;32(10):1489–98.
49.
Connor Gorber S, Tremblay M, Moher D, Gorber B. A comparison of direct vs. self-report measures for assessing height, weight and body mass index: a systematic review. Obes Rev. 2007;8:307–26.PubMedCrossRef
50.
Shields M, Connor Gorber S, Tremblay MS. Estimates of obesity based on self-report versus direct measures. Health Rep. 2008;19:61–76.PubMed
51.
Mensink GBM, Schienkiewitz A, Haftenberger M, Lampert T, Ziese T, Scheidt-Nave C. Übergewicht und Adipositas in Deutschland – Ergebnisse der Studie zur Gesundheit Erwachsener in Deutschland (DEGS1). Bundesgesundheitsblatt. 2013;56:786–94.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Do overweight workers profit by workplace health promotion, more than their normal-weight peers? Evaluation of a worksite intervention
Authors
Stefanie Mache
Sarah Jensen
Stefan Linnig
Reimo Jahn
Mirco Steudtner
Elke Ochsmann
Geraldine Preuß
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6673
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-015-0068-3

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 1/2015 Go to the issue

Review

Health risks in international container and bulk cargo transport due to volatile toxic compounds

Research

Brachial plexopathy: a case–control study of the relation to physical exposures at work

Research

What do healthcare workers in elderly care know about occupational health and safety? An explorative survey

Research

Comet assay based DNA evaluation of fuel filling stations and automobile workshops workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan

Research

A study of the association between urinary aluminum concentration and pre-clinical findings among aluminum-handling and non-handling workers

Reviewer acknowledgement

Annual acknowledgement of manuscript reviewers