Workplace-Sponsored Diet and Exercise Program to Reduce Obesity

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an environmental worksite intervention to reduce obesity among hospital employees.

Detailed Description
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BACKGROUND: Obesity is a significant public health problem in the United States, prompting policy makers and researchers to call for action against the epidemic. Obesity and associated health conditions affect all age groups and both genders, yet disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities. Health consequences of obesity include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hyperinsulinemia, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, sleep disturbances, breathing problems, and certain types of cancer. Hospitals are important worksite environments that employ large numbers of people in diverse job categories from diverse educational and socioeconomic backgrounds. DESIGN NARRATIVE: The purpose of this study is to promote weight loss among those who are overweight and obese, and prevent weight gain among those of normal weight through an environmental intervention targeted to all employees at six hospitals in central Massachusetts. The hospitals will be matched according to size, and within each matched pair randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention will promote active living, in which physical activity is incorporated into each participants' daily routine. Participants will also follow a healthy diet, characterized by higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, legumes, and whole grains. Participants will consume less high fat foods and refined grains, and reduce their total caloric intake through smaller portion sizes.

Official Title
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Active Living and Healthy Diet at the Workplace

Conditions
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Obesity, Cardiovascular Diseases, Heart Diseases

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Diet
* Behavioral: Physical Activity


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion criteria: Works at least 20 hours per week at a participating hospital Speaks English or Spanish Exclusion criteria: Works at only one hospital within the participating hospital system

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1<br>Worksite intervention | Behavioral: Diet<br>* Participants will also follow a healthy diet, characterized by higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, legumes, and whole grains. Participants will consume less high fat foods and refined grains, and reduce their total caloric intake through smaller portion sizes.<br>Behavioral: Physical Activity<br>* The intervention will promote active living, in which physical activity is incorporated into each participants' daily routine.<br>|
| No Intervention: 2<br>Receive no intervention | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Body mass index |  | Measured at Months 12 and 24 |