Enhancing employee wellness: Translating an effective community behavioral weight-loss treatment to the worksite

As rates of obesity continue to rise in the USA, there is a need for effective treatments for excess adiposity. Behavioral weight-loss interventions can produce clinically meaningful weight reduction through life-style modifications. However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of high-intensity behavioral weight-loss interventions at worksites.

The present research investigated the effectiveness of a previously validated behavioral weight-loss intervention in a Hawai'i worksite.

Thirty-six participants were recruited from the employee population of a local employer. Participants received six months of group behavioral weight-loss treatment from trained providers. Anthropomorphic, physiological, psychological, and behavioral assessments were collected pre and post treatment. Select physiological and behavioral assessments were collected every four sessions.

Sixty-one percent of participants adhered to treatment, and 78% of participants completed treatment. From pre to post treatment, results found that participants achieved clinically significant improvements in weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference, with accompanying physiological, psychological, and behavioral improvements (F(12, 2)=101.379, p=0.010, partial η²=0.998). Analyses revealed that participants also achieved significant changes in weight, BMI, and waist circumference across time points, as well as improvements in specific eating habits.

The present study demonstrated the efficacy of a worksite behavioral weight-loss program. The present intervention produced clinically significant weight losses for a large proportion of participants, accompanied by significant improvements in physiological, behavioral, and psychological outcomes. This research is promising for the ongoing implementation of behavioral weight-loss approaches.