title: Worksite influences on obesogenic behaviors in low-wage workers in St Louis, Missouri, 2013-2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  More than one-third of US adults are obese. Workplace programs to reduce obesity and improve overall health are not available or accessible to all workers, particularly low-wage workers among whom obesity is more prevalent. The goal of the study was to identify modifiable workplace factors and behaviors associated with diet and exercise to inform future workplace interventions to improve health.
  
  
  METHODS
  We distributed paper and online surveys to 2 groups of low-wage workers, hospital workers and retail sales workers, at the worksites. The surveys assessed obesity, obesogenic behaviors, workplace factors, and worker participation in workplace health programs (WHPs). Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to examine workplace factors associated with obesogenic behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 529 surveys were completed (219 hospital workers and 310 retail workers). More than 40% of workers were obese and 27% were overweight. In general, workers had poor diets (frequent consumption of sugary and high-fat foods) and engaged in little physical activity (only 30.9% met recommended physical activity guidelines). Access to and participation in workplace health programs varied greatly between hospital and retail sales workers. We identified several modifiable workplace factors, such as food source and work schedule, that were associated with diet, exercise, or participation in workplace health programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study illustrates the high prevalence of obesity and obesogenic behaviors workers in 2 low-wage groups. The differences between work groups indicated that each group had unique facilitators and barriers to healthy eating and exercise. An understanding of how socioeconomic, demographic, and work-related factors influence health will help to identify high-risk populations for intervention and to design interventions tailored and relevant to the target audiences.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Box 8005, St. Louis, MO 63110. Email: jstrickl@dom.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Jaime R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Galen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizzorno
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kinghorn
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Bradley A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Evanoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003132:Commerce; D015897:Comorbidity; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007750:Labor Unions; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008923:Missouri; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011203:Poverty; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace