First-Year Results of an Obesity Prevention Program at The Dow Chemical Company

Objective: To examine first-year results from a workplace environmental obesity prevention program at The Dow Chemical Company. Methods: A quasi-experimental cohort study was conducted among employees at nine treatment worksites (n = 8013) who received environmental weight management interventions and three control worksites (n = 2269). Changes in employees' weight, body mass index (BMI), and other health risks were examined using x(2) and t-tests. Results: After 1 year, a modest treatment effect was observed for weight and BMI largely because the control group subjects gained weight; however no effect was observed for overweight and obesity prevalence. Other risk factors (tobacco use, high blood pressure, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values) decreased significantly, although blood glucose (high risk prevalence and values) increased. Conclusions: Environmental changes to the workplace can achieve modest improvements in employees' health risks, including weight and BMI measures, in 1 year. (J Occup Environ Med. 2009;51:125-138)