ASPO Abstracts
Worksite weight loss program for cancer prevention among school district employees with overweight and obesity
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2022
Abstract Body:
Purpose of the study: Attaining a healthy weight is associated with a lower risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. The current study examined the effects of a worksite weight loss program on changes in weight, physical activity, and diet among school district employees with overweight and obesity.Methods: A three arm, 6-month digital weight loss intervention (Vibrant Lives, VL) was implemented among employees of a public school district in southeast Texas (2017-2019). The VL Basic arm (VLB) received the program materials adapted from the Diabetes Prevention Program and related text messages; the VL Plus arm (VLP) additionally received activity monitors and Wi-Fi connected scales and participated in activities using these devices. A subset of the VL Plus arm (VL Plus with Support, VLS) received additional coaching support. Program satisfaction and changes in weight, physical activity, and dietary intake (red meat, fruit, vegetable, fast food, breakfast, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption) were compared across arms using Chi-square and repeated measure mixed model or logistic regression, respectively. Results: A total of 321 participants were included in the analyses (VLB: n=138; VLP: n=91; and VLS: n=93). After the program, we observed significant pre- to post-intervention weight loss (VLB=-2.4 kg±0.8; VLP=-2.8 kg±0.9; VLS=-3.3 kg±0.6) and increases in moderate/vigorous physical activity minutes (VLB=39.4 min±9.1; VLP=32.1 min±11.4; VLS=65.6 min±11.3), but no significant differences between these arms. Less VLP participants met recommendation of red meat (2 or fewer times in the past week; OR=.44, SE=.16, p=.023) and sugar-sweetened beverage (did not drink in the past week; OR=.37, SE=.14, p=.008) than VLB participants after the program. VLS participants were more likely to achieve clinically significant levels of weight loss (≥3%) (OR=1.54, SE=.30, p=.026) and reported higher program satisfaction than VLB and VLP participants (χ2=30.13, p<.001).Conclusion: The VL weight loss program is a promising approach to facilitate weight loss by increasing physical activity and healthy eating behaviors among school district employees with overweight and obesity. More research is needed to formally evaluate this approach to community intervention.
Keywords: Weight loss program, Worksite intervention, Obesity, Healthy behaviors