Background:
With about 59% of the entire US population currently in the work force, American Heart Association has emphasized worksite-based interventions to improve cardiovascular health among the working population. The primary aim of this study was to assess the short-term (12 weeks) efficacy of an ongoing multi-component, behavioral intervention improvement program (My Unlimited Potential (myUP), among employees of Baptist Health South Florida (BHSF), a large not-for-profit health care system.
Methods:
BHSF employees with two or more Cardio-metabolic risk factors, such as total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dl, systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg, hemoglobin A1C ≥ 6.5%, and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 were considered for the study. Behavioral interventions were focused on diet and physical activity modifications.
Results:
Overall 202 (48±10 years, 78% females) employees enrolled in myUP wellness program. The retention of subjects was high with 89% (n=181) of subjects following up at 12 weeks. The figure below demonstrates the baseline, follow-up and estimated mean change in anthropometric, exercise capacity on treadmill test and CM participants. BMI reduction >5% was noted in 38% of the participants. Significantly higher, clinically meaningful, endpoints, especially in attaining blood pressure goals and exercise capacity (>10 METS), during the short-term follow-up in this behavioral intervention program (figure), were achieved.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that an intensive behavioral modification intervention program, delivered to employees in a health care setting, results in significant short term benefit in weight reduction, increase fitness level and concomitantly improve cardio-metabolic risk profile. Further follow-up is in progress to ascertain whether these benefits are sustainable over a longer duration.
Reorganization of brain function after a short-term behavioral intervention for stuttering
