title: A multicenter randomized controlled trial of a nutrition intervention program in a multiethnic adult population in the corporate setting reduces depression and anxiety and improves quality of life: the GEICO study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a plant-based nutrition program in a multicenter, corporate setting improves depression, anxiety, and productivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental study examined the impact of diet on emotional well-being and productivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 10 corporate sites of a major U.S. insurance company.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 292 participants (79.8% women, 20.2% men), with body mass index ≥25 kg/m(2) and/or previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Either weekly instruction in following a vegan diet or no instruction was given for 18 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depression and anxiety were measured using the Short Form-36 questionnaire. Work productivity was measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline characteristics were examined by t-test for continuous variables and χ(2) test for categorical variables. Analysis of covariance models were adjusted for baseline covariates. Paired t-tests were used to determine within-group changes and t-tests for between-group differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In an intention-to-treat analysis, improvements in impairment because of health (p < .001), overall work impairment because of health (p = .02), non-work-related activity impairment because of health (p < .001), depression (p = .02), anxiety (p = .04), fatigue (p < .001), emotional well-being (p = .01), daily functioning because of physical health (p = .01), and general health (p = 0.02) in the intervention group were significantly greater than in the control group. Results were similar for study completers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dietary intervention improves depression, anxiety, and productivity in a multicenter, corporate setting.
authors: Ulka
authors: U
authors: Agarwal
authors: Suruchi
authors: S
authors: Mishra
authors: Jia
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Levin
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Gonzales
authors: Neal D
authors: ND
authors: Barnard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Depression; Health focus: nutrition; Manuscript format: research; Research purpose: intervention testing, program evaluation; Nutrition; Outcome measure: behavioral, productivity; Prevention Research; Productivity; Setting: workplace; Strategy: education, behavior change; Study design: quasi-experimental; Target population circumstances: education, geographic location, race/ethnicity; Target population: adults; Vegan; Vegetarian; Worksite