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Demographic factors and weight change in a worksite weight loss intervention.
Author(s) -
Das Sai Krupa,
Urban Lorien E.,
Batra Payal,
Robinson Lisa M.,
Salinardi Taylor C.,
Roberts Susan B.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.349.6
Subject(s) - weight loss , demography , weight change , medicine , marital status , ethnic group , gerontology , obesity , intervention (counseling) , body weight , environmental health , population , nursing , political science , sociology , law
Worksites are increasingly being considered as locations for weight loss programs. We examined predictors of weight loss in employees participating in a 6 month randomized study of a weight loss intervention versus wait‐listed control at 4 worksites (2 for‐profit and 2 non‐profit). Measures included body weight, age, BMI, sex, race, ethnic group, income, education and marital status. Both control sites gained weight on average whereas the intervention sites lost weight. There was a significant difference between the two intervention sites in weight change over 6 month, with the for‐profit worksite having almost twice the weight loss of the non‐profit worksite (−11.2±7.7 kg, −6.2±5.4; P=0.0002). There were no significant differences in demographic variables between the intervention sites. In a regression model including all demographic variables, weight change was predicted by initial BMI (p=0.009), and income (p=0.03) and there was also a significant effect of site (p=0.001). In conclusion there was a substantial difference in mean weight loss between the two intervention worksites in this study that was not fully explained by standard demographic characteristics. Further research is needed to identify worksite characteristics that influence weight loss success.Funding Source : HNRCA pilot.