title: Do overweight workers profit by workplace health promotion, more than their normal-weight peers? Evaluation of a worksite intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Worksite health promotion programs have been identified as strongly effective in decreasing body weight and increasing awareness and change in health behavior. Aim of this study is to determine the effects of a multi-component intervention in workplace health promotion.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a controlled study trail, 1,573 workers of a logistics company had the chance to participate in a one year worksite health promotion program. Main elements of the multi-component intervention were physical activity training in combination with nutrition counseling. Employees completed a questionnaire at baseline and then again after twelve month. Main outcome variables were changes in body weight and health behaviors. Secondary outcomes were subjective health indicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed preliminary improvements in physical activity and eating behavior among normal weight and overweight/obesity weight groups. No significant weight reduction could be found, only a minimal reduction of BMI. The reduction was larger in the overweight group. Workers considered overweight or obese showed significantly greater body weight loss and changes in eating behavior than workers with a normal weight status. Workers with obesity/overweight scored their general health status significantly lower than their colleagues with normal weight status. No significant improvements were found for overall perception of health status between baseline and follow-up in the BMI-groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This 12-month intervention-control study suggests that a well-implemented multi-component workplace health promotion program may support substantial change in health behavior (e.g. nutrition and physical activity). It is indicated that overweight employees may especially profit from such worksite health promotion. An investigation of long-term effects of this multi-component intervention is strongly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Occupational Medicine and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Seewartenstrasse 10, 20459 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mache
authors.affiliation: Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences, Wiener Straße/Ecke Celsiusstraße, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Free University and Humboldt University, Thielallee 69-73, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Linnig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Technology & Innovation Management, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg, Holstenhofweg 85, 22043 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Reimo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Care Management, University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring 2a, 08056 Zwickau, Germany.
authors.forename: Mirco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steudtner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Care Management, University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring 2a, 08056 Zwickau, Germany.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ochsmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Free University and Humboldt University, Thielallee 69-73, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Preuß
keywords: Health behavior changes; Physical activity; Prevention of overweight; Weight gain program; Workplace health promotion