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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296981
Title: Demographic factors and weight change in a worksite weight loss intervention

Author
item DAS, SAI KRUPA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item URBAN, LORIEN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item BATRA, PAYAL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item ROBINSON, LISA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item SALINARDI, TAYLOR - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item ROBERTS, SUSAN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2013
Publication Date: 4/9/2013
Citation: Das, S., Urban, L.E., Batra, P., Robinson, L.M., Salinardi, T.C., Roberts, S.B. 2013. Demographic factors and weight change in a worksite weight loss intervention. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 27:349.6.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Worksites are increasingly being considered as locations for weight loss programs. We examined predictors of weight loss in employees participating in a 6 month randomized study of a weight loss intervention versus wait-listed control at 4 worksites (2 for-profit and 2 non-profit). Measures included body weight, age, BMI, sex, race, ethnic group, income, education and marital status. Both control sites gained weight on average whereas the intervention sites lost weight. There was a significant difference between the two intervention sites in weight change over 6 month, with the for-profit worksite having almost twice the weight loss of the non-profit worksite (–11.2 +/- 7.7 kg, –6.2 +/- 5.4; P=0.0002). There were no significant differences in demographic variables between the intervention sites. In a regression model including all demographic variables, weight change was predicted by initial BMI (p=0.009), and income (p=0.03) and there was also a significant effect of site (p=0.001). In conclusion there was a substantial difference in mean weight loss between the two intervention worksites in this study that was not fully explained by standard demographic characteristics. Further research is needed to identify worksite characteristics that influence weight loss success.