CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Obesity Prevention and Control: Worksite Programs
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Worksite nutrition and physical activity programs are designed to improve health-related behaviors and health outcomes. These programs can include one or more approaches to support behavioral change including informational and educational, behavioral and social, and policy and environmental strategies.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends worksite programs intended to improve diet and/or physical activity behaviors based on strong evidence of their effectiveness for reducing weight among employees.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends worksite programs intended to improve diet and/or physical activity behaviors based on strong evidence of their effectiveness for reducing weight among employees.
Results / Accomplishments
Results from the Systematic Reviews:
Forty-seven studies qualified for the review and included three outcome measures: body mass index (BMI), weight, and percent body fat.
• The most common intervention strategies included both informational and behavioral skills components (32 studies). Few studies (4 studies) looked at policy and environmental changes in the worksite.
• Effects on the three outcomes consistently favored:
-The intervention group compared to the controls (31 studies)
-Those receiving more intensive versus less intensive strategies (9 studies).
-In individually randomized controlled trials, results showed that compared with control groups after 12 months, participating employees lost an average of 2.8 pounds (9 studies) and reduced their average BMI by 0.5 (6 studies).
• No one focus, diet or physical activity, or combination of both appeared to be better than others in terms of its effect on weight loss.
• Most of the studies involved a white collar workforce that included some employees with overweight or other chronic disease risk conditions.
• The range of cost-effectiveness estimates from three studies (two involving weight-loss competitions and one involving a physical fitness program) varied from $1.44 to $4.16 per pound of loss in body weight.
Forty-seven studies qualified for the review and included three outcome measures: body mass index (BMI), weight, and percent body fat.
• The most common intervention strategies included both informational and behavioral skills components (32 studies). Few studies (4 studies) looked at policy and environmental changes in the worksite.
• Effects on the three outcomes consistently favored:
-The intervention group compared to the controls (31 studies)
-Those receiving more intensive versus less intensive strategies (9 studies).
-In individually randomized controlled trials, results showed that compared with control groups after 12 months, participating employees lost an average of 2.8 pounds (9 studies) and reduced their average BMI by 0.5 (6 studies).
• No one focus, diet or physical activity, or combination of both appeared to be better than others in terms of its effect on weight loss.
• Most of the studies involved a white collar workforce that included some employees with overweight or other chronic disease risk conditions.
• The range of cost-effectiveness estimates from three studies (two involving weight-loss competitions and one involving a physical fitness program) varied from $1.44 to $4.16 per pound of loss in body weight.
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults