INTRODUCTION: Maintaining a healthy and productive workforce is essential for employers in public and private sectors. Poor nutrition and @entity28 contribute to @entity102 and influence health care costs and productivity. Research indicates that eating a healthy diet is associated with lower body mass index and reduced risk for developing @entity102 . METHODS: The Arkansas Department of Health implemented the Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program to encourage @entity14962 among state health employees. During the pilot year, @entity1 completed a health risk assessment at baseline and again after 1 year that assessed diet and physical activity, other health risk factors, and readiness to make behavioral changes. @entity1 were encouraged to eat healthfully, participate in regular exercise, report health behaviors using a Web-based reporting system, accumulate points for healthy behaviors, and redeem points for incentives. Differences in @entity1 ' (n = 214) reported dietary behaviors between baseline and follow-up were assessed using chi2 analyses and tests of symmetry. RESULTS: Consumption of sweets/desserts, @entity10392 , protein, grains, processed meats, and dairy did not differ significantly from baseline to follow-up. However, at follow-up more @entity1 reported eating 3 or more fruits and vegetables per day than at baseline and being in the action and maintenance stages of readiness to change for eating 5 or more fruits and vegetables per day and for eating a diet low in fat. CONCLUSION: Further study is needed to examine physical activity and other health risk factors to determine whether the program merits a @entity6831 .

Promoting dietary change among state health employees in Arkansas through a worksite XXXX program: the Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program (HELP).

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'Participants'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['obesity'] @entity14962 :: ('MESH:C536693', 'Disease') :: ['wellness'] @entity102 :: ('MESH:D002908', 'Disease') :: ['chronic disease', 'chronic diseases'] @entity6831 :: ('MESH:D004673', 'Disease') :: ['broader dissemination'] @entity10392 :: ('118611', 'Gene') :: ['fats']
@entity14962 :: (MESH:C536693,Disease) :: ['wellness']
