The Vale of Leven health promotion project

A two stage health promotion programme is in progress in the Vale of Leven in Dunbartonshire. The first stage has been completed within a local factory (Polaroid UK Limited), the largest private employer in the district. A total of 1205 employees, representing 87% of the workforce, took part in the programme and were initially screened for coronary artery risk factors. Blood pressure, serum cholesterol, body composition and aerobic fitness were measured and smoking habits determined. Aspects of lifestyle were assessed by questionnaire. All employees whose initial cholesterol concentration was greater than 6.5 mM were given simple dietary advice and their cholesterol concentration thereafter remeasured. Eighty-two per cent of these men and 72% of these women succeeded in reducing their cholesterol, the men by a mean of 1.3 mM, the women by a mean of 0.7 mM. The health initiatives undertaken within the factory at the same time as screening are also described in this paper.