title: Impact of lifestyle intervention on body weight and the metabolic syndrome in home-care providers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study evaluated the impact of lifestyle intervention on body weight, metabolic syndrome parameters, nutrition and physical activity in home-care providers (HCPs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 551 screened employees of a nursing agency, 173 were eligible to participate and were assigned to either the intervention (n=129) or the control (n=44) group. Participants in the intervention group followed an educational programme that encouraged physical activity and healthy nutrition, and were equipped with bicycles free of charge. Anthropometric, biological and lifestyle parameters were assessed at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight, waist circumference and systolic blood pressure significantly decreased at 12 months in both study groups. Incidence of the metabolic syndrome in the intervention group at 12 months was reduced by 50% (from 17 to 9.2%; P=0.04). There were also decreases in LDL cholesterol (-0.36 mmol/L; P<0.01), total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio (-0.57; P<0.01) and fasting glucose (-0.4 mmol/L; P<0.05), and an increase in HDL cholesterol (+0.22 mmol/L; P<0.01) in the intervention group. At 12 months, a decrease in daily caloric intake (-391 kcal/day; P<0.001) and an increase in the percentage of participants engaging in physical activity (+3.4%; P<0.05) were also observed in the intervention group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lifestyle changes among HCPs are possible with relatively modest behavioural education and within a short period of time. Educational strategies and workshops are effective, efficient and easy to perform, and should be encouraged in HCPs to promote the implementation of lifestyle modifications in their patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerstel
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pataky
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busnel
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rutschmann
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guessous
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zumwald
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golay
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL