Effect of a Workplace Weight-Loss Program for Overweight and Obese Healthcare Workers

Purpose: Examining the effect of a workplace weight-loss program on weight loss, and physical, behavioral and mental well-being among overweight/obese healthcare workers. Design: Quasi experimental design Setting: Single healthcare setting Participants: Forty-one (48.0 +/- 11.2 years) day-time shift healthcare employees with body mass index [BMI] >29 kg/m(2). Intervention: Sixteen-week program with weekly group meetings/activities and individual appointments with nutrition/health experts. Measures: Objective (weight, BMI, blood pressure) and self-reported measures were collected at baseline, conclusion of the intervention and 3 to 6 months post-intervention. Analysis: Repeated measure analysis accounting for confounders. Results: Participants had an average of 13 pounds (5.6%) weight loss (224.2 +/- 6.4 vs. 211.6 +/- 6.4 lbs.;P< 0.0001) upon program completion with significant decreases in BMI (37.7 +/- 1.0 vs. 35.1 +/- 1.0 kg/m(2);P< 0.0001). Extreme obesity (BMI >= 40 kg/m(2)) rate was reduced from 36.6% to 17.1% (P< 0.0001). There were decreases in diastolic blood pressure (76.0 +/- 1.4 vs. 68.7 +/- 1.5 mmHg;P= 0.001) and self-reported blood glucose (119.9 +/- 4.4 vs. 105.5 +/- 4.6 mg/dL;P= 0.03). Participants had improvements in weekly physical activity (25% change;P= 0.01), nutrition behavior (33% change,P< 0.0001), sleep quality (23% change,P= 0.005), and depression (72% change,P< 0.0001). Twenty-seven participants had post-intervention follow-up data. On average participants regained 8 pounds, which was less than the initial weight loss (16 lbs., N = 27). Conclusion: The results suggest the program may benefit healthcare employees. Further emphasis should be placed on post-intervention weight management to prevent weight regain.