title: Impact of a pedometer-based workplace health program on cardiovascular and diabetes risk profile.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether participation in a four-month, pedometer-based, physical activity, workplace health programme results in an improvement in risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults employed within Australia in primarily sedentary occupations and voluntarily enrolled in a workplace programme, the Global Corporate Challenge®, aimed at increasing physical activity were recruited. Data included demographic, behavioural, anthropometric and biomedical measurements. Measures were compared between baseline and four-months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  762 participants were recruited in April/May 2008 with 79% returning. Improvements between baseline and four-months amongst programme participants were observed for physical activity (an increase of 6.5% in the proportion meeting guidelines, OR(95%CI): 1.7(1.1, 2.5)), fruit intake (4%, OR: 1.7(1.0, 3.0)), vegetable intake (2%, OR: 1.3(1.0, 1.8)), sitting time (-0.6(-0.9, -0.3) hours/day), blood pressure (systolic: -1.8(-3.1, -.05) mmHg; diastolic: -1.8(-2.4, -1.3) mmHg) and waist circumference (-1.6(-2.4, -0.7) cm). In contrast, an increase was found for fasting total cholesterol (0.3(0.1, 0.4) mmol/L) and triglycerides (0.1(0.0, 0.1) mmol/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Completion of this four-month, pedometer-based, physical activity, workplace programme was associated with improvements in behavioural and anthropometric risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Long-term evaluation is required to evaluate the potential of such programmes to prevent the onset of chronic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre, Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia. Rosanne.Freak-Poli@monash.edu
authors.forename: Rosanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freak-Poli
authors.forename: Rory
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Backholer
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Courten
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peeters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016272:Occupational Health; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D017132:Workplace