title: Weight loss among female health care workers--a 1-year workplace based randomized controlled trial in the FINALE-health study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Weight management constitutes a substantial problem particularly among groups of low socio-economic status. Interventions at work places may be a solution, but high quality worksite interventions documenting prolonged weight loss are lacking. This paper presents results of an intervention aimed to achieve a 12 months weight loss among overweight health care workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight overweight female health care workers were randomized into an intervention or a reference group. The intervention consisted of diet, physical exercise and cognitive behavioral training during working hours 1 hour/week. The reference group was offered monthly oral presentations. Several anthropometric measures, blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, maximal muscle strength, and musculoskeletal pain were measured before and after the 12-months intervention period. Data were analyzed by intention-to-treat analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group significantly reduced body weight by 6 kg (p < 0.001), BMI by 2.2 (p < 0.001) and body fat percentage by 2.8 (p < 0.001). There were no statistical reductions in the control group, resulting in significant differences between the two groups over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention generated substantial reductions in body weight, BMI and body fat percentage among overweight female health care workers over 12 months. The positive results support the workplace as an efficient arena for weight loss among overweight females.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01015716.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. jrc@sport.au.dk
authors.forename: Jeanette R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Overgaard
authors.forename: Isabella G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holtermann
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Søgaard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000379:methods; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult