Effectiveness of a Worksite-Based Lifestyle Intervention on Employees’ Obesity Control and Prevention in China: A Group Randomized Experimental Study

Jingxia Kong, Ying Chen, Yingjing Zheng, Lin Zhu, Boyan Chen, Xiao Cheng, Mengna Song, Donald L. Patrick, Shirley A. A. Beresford and Hongmei Wang
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Jingxia Kong: Department of Investment and Insurance, Zhejiang Financial College, Hangzhou 310018, China
Ying Chen: Department of Social Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou 310058, China
Yingjing Zheng: Department of Social Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou 310058, China
Lin Zhu: Shanghai Health Development Research Centre (Shanghai Medical Information Centre), Shanghai 200031, China
Boyan Chen: Department of Social Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou 310058, China
Xiao Cheng: Department of Social Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou 310058, China
Mengna Song: Department of Social Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou 310058, China
Donald L. Patrick: Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Shirley A. A. Beresford: Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Hongmei Wang: Department of Social Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou 310058, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Background : This study was to culturally adapt a lifestyle intervention for employees’ obesity control and prevention using a participatory process, and evaluate the effectiveness of the project at worksites. Methods : A group randomized experimental study included four worksites (two intervention, two control) in the Yangtze River Delta in China was conducted. A total of 388 participants (216 in the intervention worksites and 172 in the control worksites) were finally recruited from 955 employees at the four worksites (464 in the intervention worksites and 491 in the control worksites). The final evaluation was completed by two hundred and seventy-eight employees (159 in the intervention worksites and 119 in the control worksites, respectively). Data of demographic information, weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and weight-related behaviors including diary behaviors and physical activities were collected before and after a 12-month intervention and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t -test, chi-square test, linear mixed regression and logistic mixed regression. Results : Although the intervention worksites had a reduction in body mass index (23.21 to 22.95, p < 0.01), hip circumference (95.97 to 95.28, p = 0.03) and waist-to-height ratio (0.49 to 0.48, p = 0.01), the differential changes compared to those of the control group were not statistically significant. The frequency of sweet beverages (−1.81, 95%CI: −0.52, −3.11), frequency of vegetable intake (5.66, 95%CI: 1.59, 9.74), daily servings of vegetables (0.53, 95%CI: 0.24, 0.82), frequency of fruit intake (3.68, 95%CI: 1.25, 6.12), daily servings of fruit (0.26, 95%CI: 0.44, 0.92), daily servings of vegetables and fruit (0.79, 95%CI: 0.43, 1.16), daily steps (863.19, 95%CI: 161.42, 1564.97) and self-efficacy to change physical activity (OR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.02,3.60) were more improved in the intervention group than were those measures in the control group. Conclusions : The worksite-based lifestyle intervention project for obesity control and prevention improved several employees’ dietary behaviors and physical activities at worksites in China in a short time. Long-term intervention with larger samples in more worksites should be further examined.

Keywords: worksite; obesity; lifestyle intervention; dietary; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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