Obesity, Lifestyle and Work Intervention
Condition: Obesity; Morbid Obesity; Sick-leave; Work Related Illnesses; Life Style
MeSH terms: Obesity; Obesity, Morbid
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The main aim of this study was to examine whether introducing a work intervention into a
      traditional lifestyle rehabilitation program for persons with BMI above 30, would affect the
      participants' ability to work and their lifestyle change. The investigators wanted to find
      out how the participants experienced their health, workability and work capacity, quality of
      life, diet and self-efficacy before and during the intervention
    

Detailed description: 
      The background for this study was insights about obesity and sick leave. Obesity is related
      to lower labor force participation, increased sickness absence and reduced productivity. A
      Danish study from 2006 reported a yearly 1, 8 million extra days of work absence and close to
      1.100 cases of disability pension related to obesity. A 2016-report from OECD show that
      persons with obesity between the ages 50-59 have three times as much work absence as those
      who do not struggle with obesity. This indicates that persons with obesity are a group where
      the need for work rehabilitation is important. Despite this connection, work focus has not
      been a part of lifestyle interventions for persons with morbid obesity until the last two
      years.

      By introducing a work intervention into a traditional lifestyle rehabilitation program for
      persons with BMI over 30, the investigators wanted to examine whether this would affect the
      participants' ability to work and their lifestyle change. The study was designed as a
      randomized controlled study with an exploring prospective design. The intervention lasted 12
      months and each patient had three visits (baseline, 6 and 12 months) at Muritunet, each
      lasting 4-2-2 weeks. The participants were randomized into two intervention, one with work
      intervention and one without.

      Data material gathered at each stay consisting of self-reported forms, test, journal and
      individual interviews. These were all collected at baseline, and at six and twelve months.
    

Intervention name(s): Lifestyle and work intervention; Lifestyle intervention
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The intervention period lasted for a year with three institution-based stays, 4 weeks at baseline and 2 weeks at 6 and 12 months. At baseline, participants got a functional assessment and an individual adjusted rehabilitation plan. At all three stages: The intervention contains activity training with a focus on the joy of movement, strength- and cardio-training. There were lectures and cognitive therapy to promote self-care and lifestyle change. The intervention contained lectures on diet, nutrition and cooking-classes. Participants set goals at baseline and adjusting these during the progress. Exercise programs was designed to use at home. The Cognitive Information Processing model of career guidance was the mainframe for the work dimension. All participants had talks with the work consultant at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Two work lectures, "Duties and rights as employees" and "Work as medicine". When needed the work consultant contacted the employer in order to facilitate changes.; The intervention period lasted for a year with three institution-based stay, 4 weeks at baseline and 2 weeks at 6 and 12 months. At baseline, participants got a functional assessment and an individual adjusted rehabilitation plan.
At all three stages: The intervention contains activity training with focus on joy of movement, strength- and cardio-training. There was lectures and cognitive therapy to promote self-care and lifestyle change. The intervention contained lectures on diet, nutrition and cooking-classes. Participants set goals at baseline and adjusting these during the progress. They developed exercise programs designed to use at home.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: The study was designed as a randomized controlled study with an exploring prospective design. The intervention lasted 12 months and each patient had three visits (baseline, 6 and 12 month) at Muritunet, each lasting 4-2-2 weeks. The participants was randomized either into a lifestyle and work intervention or into a lifestyle intervention.
Data material gathered at each stay consisting of self-reported forms, test, journal and individual interviews. These were all collected at baseline, and at six and twelve months.
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Health Services Research
Keywords: Obesity; Work Focus; Workability; Life-style treatment