Stages of weight change among an occupational cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the readiness to change dietary intake and body weight among production workers. We also ascertained differences between self-perceived and measured body mass index.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study queried physical activity, psychosocial factors, fruit and vegetable intake, and readiness to change based on the transtheoretical model.


RESULTS
Sixty-three (28%) workers were overweight, and 114 (50%) were obese. Obese workers were in the following stages of weight change: precontemplation (4%), contemplation (45%), preparation (13%), action (21%), and (17%) maintenance. Ten percent of overweight workers erroneously reported their body mass index to be normal.


CONCLUSIONS
About half of overweight/obese workers were in the precontemplation or contemplation stages for healthy dietary changes or weight loss. Recognizing the stages of change with regard to weight and the self-perception of weight status may help tailor workplace health promotion programs.
From the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (Drs Ott, Thiese, and Hegmann); Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (Drs Stanford and Greenwood); Division of Epidemiology (Dr Murtaugh); and Division of Family and Preventive Medicine (Dr Gren), Department of Public Health, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
Ulrike
U
Ott
Joseph B
JB
Stanford
Jessica L J
JL
Greenwood
Maureen A
MA
Murtaugh
Lisa H
LH
Gren
Matthew S
MS
Thiese
Kurt T
KT
Hegmann
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss