A worksite obesity intervention: results from a group-randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Occupational Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Adults tend to gain weight progressively with age.
• Worksite interventions are crucial for promoting adult health.
• Elementary school personnel are a key demographic for health promotion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a participatory obesity intervention for elementary school personnel.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on body mass index (BMI) and other health behaviors.
• To determine the effectiveness of a community-based participatory approach in a school setting.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted across 16 school worksites.
• Intervention schools utilized employee committees to design and implement health promotion activities.
• Data on BMI, waist-hip ratio, physical activity, and diet were collected at baseline and after two years.

Main Results:

• Employees in intervention schools showed a decrease in BMI (-0.04 kg/m2) after adjustment.
• Employees in control schools experienced an increase in BMI (0.37 kg/m2).
• No significant differences were observed in waist-hip ratio, physical activity, or fruit and vegetable consumption between groups.

Conclusions:

• The participatory process was effective in initiating change among school personnel.
• The intervention demonstrated potential in mitigating age-related weight gain.
• Worksite-based participatory interventions can be a viable strategy for obesity prevention in adults.