A weight-control program for bank employees

Three separate weight-control classes were offered to employees of a Lincoln bank. The classes consisted of eight consecutive, 1-hour weekly sessions with two booster sessions at 6-week intervals. Behavior change, caloric and nutritional value of foods, and exercise were stressed in the classes. Long-term success of the program was evaluated for two classes, one at 27 months and the other at 22 months after the initial session. Weight losses of Class 1 averaged 11.3 lb at 8 weeks, 15.7 lb after 5 months, and 8.5 lb at 27 months. For Class 2, weight loss after 8 weeks averaged 8.8 lb, with a 10.3-lb loss at 5 months, and an 8.3-lb loss at 22 months. For Class 3, weight loss averaged 6.8 lb after 8 weeks and 12.0 lb at 5 months. This was the most recent class, and sufficient time has not elapsed to measure long-term results. Participants who achieved the greatest success reported substituting baking and broiling for frying as their method of food preparation, exercising routinely, eating smaller portions of food, and setting goals for weight loss. The program was considered cost-effective by both the dietitian and the bank administration.