Reduction in blood pressure , lipids and blood glucose was not statistically significant .
Conclusions Workplace interventions  significantly reduced body weight , BMI and waist circumference .
Non-significant results for biochemical markers could be due to them being secondary outcomes in most studies .
Background Adults in urban areas spend almost 77 % of their waking time being inactive at workplaces , which leaves little time for physical activity .
The aim of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to synthesize evidence for the effect of workplace physical activity interventions on the cardio-metabolic health markers ( body weight , waist circumference , body mass index ( BMI ) , blood pressure , lipids and blood glucose ) among working adults .
Effect of a 4-year workplace-based physical activity intervention program on the blood lipid profiles of participating employees: the high-risk and population strategy for occupational health promotion (HIPOP-OHP) study.
Individuals who are physically fit or engage in regular physical activity have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and risk of mortality . We conducted a large-scale controlled trial of interventions to decrease cardiovascular risk factors , during which we assessed the effect of a workplace-based intervention program , which was part of a population strategy for promoting long-term increases in physical activity , on the blood lipid profiles  of participating employees . Data were collected from 2929 participants and this report presents the results of a survey conducted in five factories for the intervention group and five factories for the control group at baseline and year 5 . The absolute/proportional changes in HDL-cholesterol were 2.7 mg/dL ( 4.8 % ) in the intervention group and -0.6 mg/dL ( -1.0 % ) in the control group . The differences between the two groups in the change in serum levels of HDL-cholesterol were highly significant ( p<0.001 ) in each analysis of covariance , in which the number of cigarettes smoked was included or excluded . In the intervention group , the  daily walking time  increased significantly ( p<0.001 ) when compared between baseline and year 5 , whereas no significant difference was observed in daily walking time in the control group over the identical period . Our results show that an intervention program promoting physical activity raises serum HDL-cholesterol levels of middle-aged employees . Increased awareness of the benefits of physical activity , using environmental rearrangement and health promotion campaigns , which especially target walking , may have contributed to a beneficial change in serum HDL-cholesterol levels in the participants
Reduction in blood pressure , lipids and blood glucose was not statistically significant .
Conclusions Workplace interventions  significantly reduced body weight , BMI and waist circumference .
Non-significant results for biochemical markers could be due to them being secondary outcomes in most studies .
Background Adults in urban areas spend almost 77 % of their waking time being inactive at workplaces , which leaves little time for physical activity .
The aim of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to synthesize evidence for the effect of workplace physical activity interventions on the cardio-metabolic health markers ( body weight , waist circumference , body mass index ( BMI ) , blood pressure , lipids and blood glucose ) among working adults .