scholarly journals Evaluation of Worksite Wellness Nutrition and Physical Activity Programs and Their Subsequent Impact on Participants’ Body Composition

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Victoria Sandercock ◽  
Jeanette Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Worksite Wellness ◽  
Nutrition And Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Programs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Worksite Wellness Programs

Background. Adult obesity is globally recognized as a public health concern. As adults spend most of their weekdays at work, worksite wellness programs may include topics of nutrition education and physical activity to improve an employee’s body composition. However, results are inconsistent with the impact they have on employees’ body composition.Objective. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate worksite wellness nutrition and physical activity programs and their subsequent impact on participants’ body composition.Methods. Extraction of articles was completed through 4 databases: PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO using keywords such as “nutrition and physical activity interventions/programs” and “weight.” A 9-point inclusion criterion was established. Evaluation of the articles was assessed using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence-Based Manual.Results. A total of 962 articles were identified. Twenty-three met the inclusion criterion. Seventeen studies resulted in a change in body composition (e.g., decreased BMI (kg/m2), waist circumference, and body fat percentage), and six studies did not show any changes. Programs that had professionals frequently interact with participants, regardless if the interactions were done daily, weekly, or monthly, led to a change in body composition. Additionally, programs that incorporated a motivation theory and provided content relevant to participants’ needs resulted in a change in body composition.Conclusion. Evidence supports that future worksite wellness programs that are designed using a motivational theory and content that is created relevant to participants’ needs and that has frequent interactions with participants may result in a change in body composition.

scholarly journals Impact of a three-year worksite wellness program on employee blood lipid levels

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-56
Author(s):  
Kendra Byrd ◽  
Kathryn Silliman ◽  
Michelle Neyman Morris
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Blood Lipid ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Worksite Wellness ◽  
Lipid Levels ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Blood Lipid Levels ◽  
Worksite Wellness Programs

Worksite wellness programs can be used to implement interventions aimed at addressing current rates of obesity and related chronic disease and their associated health care costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a worksite wellness program on blood lipid levels among employees at a rural manufacturing plant in Northern California. Pre to post changes were analyzed using paired sample ttests. Demographic data collected as part of a subsequent nutrition education component of the program indicated that the employees were mostly male (88%) and Caucasian (71%), with a mean age of 47 ± 9 years. Forty-seven percent of the subjects were overweight and 38% obese. Following the three-year worksite wellness program, subjects’ total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels decreased, while their HDL-cholesterol levels increased significantly. These results suggest that long-term worksite wellness programs can improve employee health outcomes.

scholarly journals Participants’ Perspectives of a Worksite Wellness Program Using an Outcome-Based Contingency Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 595-610
Author(s):  
David Gerard Bruno ◽  
James R. Brown ◽  
Evan D. Holloway
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Employee Health ◽  
Worksite Wellness ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Contingency Approach ◽  
Worksite Wellness Programs

Worksite wellness programs in the U.S. are increasingly common. Social workers in healthcare and administration should familiarize themselves with the various wellness programs and the impact they have on workers and organizations. This study examined a worksite wellness outcome-based contingency approach (WWOCA). This approach bases individual employee health insurance discounts on each participant achieving biometric goals. A mixed-method explanatory approach was used. Quantitative health measures of participants (n = 397) and six focus group discussions (n = 45) were conducted using a convenience sample. Results indicate that over half of the participants met their work-based health goals (i.e., body measurements at the average or excellent rankings) with increases from 56% in year one to 87% in year two and 90% by year three. However, focus group participants expressed a high sense of failure in relation to health goal attainment, frustration with loss of the financial incentive, and stress and anxiety linked to negative feedback about their body measurements. These results suggest that many participants’ self-worth was negatively impacted when participants had difficulty conforming to worksite wellness standards. Social workers in healthcare and administration will need to advocate for worksite wellness programs that promote human dignity and avoid discriminating based on employee health status. 

scholarly journals Financial Well-Being Program Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R. Click ◽  
Mary Ann Dobbins
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Program Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Financial Knowledge ◽  
Worksite Wellness ◽  
Significant Research ◽  
Programming Effort ◽  
The Impact

Background: The impact of financial well-being on health is significant. Research connects individual and organizational well-being to the strength of financial knowledge and sound finance practices among employees. Learning more about financial topics is critical for comprehensive well-being yet few articles exist which describe implementation of such initiatives within organizations.Aim:  While traditional worksite wellness programs have emphasized physical activity, stress management and nutrition, an increasingly larger number of organizations want to expand beyond those categories to topics such as community health and financial well-being.Methods:  A Midwestern research-intensive university has offered financial well-being programs for faculty and staff over the last three years. A description of the initiative, and each programming effort, is included within this article.Results:  Numerous positive, qualitative outcomes have been experienced by program participants.Conclusions:  Learn more about the evidence and practical efforts easily implemented within higher education institutions through this description of one university’s program experience and outcomes.

scholarly journals The Impact of Worksite Wellness Programs by Size of Business: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study of Participation, Health Benefits, Absenteeism, and Presenteeism

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S42-S54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie V Schwatka ◽  
Derek Smith ◽  
David Weitzenkamp ◽  
Adam Atherly ◽  
Miranda J Dally ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Worksite Wellness ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Worksite Wellness Programs

scholarly journals Body composition outcomes of Healthy Fit and the role of acculturation among low-income Hispanics on the US-Mexico border

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane I. Lopez ◽  
Lauren Chacon ◽  
Denise Vasquez ◽  
Louis D. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Mexico Border

Abstract Background Hispanic immigrants continue to experience higher rates of overweight and obesity compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts. Acculturation may contribute to unhealthy weight gain among immigrant populations by shifting dietary patterns from high fruit and vegetable consumption to unhealthier high fat diets. Healthy Fit, a culturally tailored community health worker (CHW) intervention, aims to reduce obesity related outcomes by providing physical activity and nutrition education and resources in a low-income Hispanic population. This study aims to evaluate outcomes of Healthy Fit participants and examine changes in body composition in relation to level of acculturation at baseline and follow-up. Method In this longitudinal observational study, CHWs recruited 514 participants from community events and agencies serving low-income Hispanic populations in El Paso, Texas from 2015 to 2016. Following an in-person health screening, eligible participants received nutrition and physical activity education guided by fotonovelas, comic-like educational books. Telephone follow-ups made at 1, 3, and 6 months by CHWs encouraged follow-through on referrals. 288 participants completed the screening again during the 12-month follow-up. Results The sample was predominantly Hispanic (96%), female (82%), uninsured (79%), had a household income of less than $19,999 (70%), foreign-born (79%), preferred Spanish (86%) and few rated themselves as good or excellent for English proficiency (27%). Overall, Healthy Fit participants significantly improved (i.e., decreased) BFP by 0.71% (t = 2.47, p = 0.01) but not BMI (b = .01, t = − 0.14, p = .89). Contrary to expectations, acculturation was not associated with lower BMI (b = 0.09, p = 0.84) or BFP (b = 0.13, p = 0.85) at baseline. However, acculturation predicted changes in both BMI (b = 0.30, p = 0.03) and BFP (b = 1.33, p = 0 .01) from baseline to follow-up. Specifically, the low acculturation group improved in body composition measures over time and the high acculturation group did not improve in either measure. Conclusion Findings suggest Healthy Fit was most effective among less acculturated individuals. The influence of acculturation on the efficacy of nutrition and exercise interventions suggests that Hispanics should not be treated as a homogenous subgroup.

Dietary and behavior changes following rdn-led corporate wellness counseling: A secondary analysis

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Kristen K. Hicks-Roof ◽  
Mallory P. Franklin ◽  
Claudia V. Sealey-Potts ◽  
Robert J. Zeglin
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nutrition Intervention ◽  
Behavior Changes ◽  
Worksite Wellness ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Lifestyle Behavior ◽  
Worksite Wellness Programs

BACKGROUND: Worksite wellness programs have the ability to activate health promotion and stimulate behavior change. OBJECTIVE: To measure longitudinal associations between visits with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), as part of worksite wellness programs, on dietary and lifestyle behavior changes. METHODS: The study sample included 1,123 employees with 77 different worksite wellness programs across the United States from March to December 2017. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to evaluate the associations of RDN visits with behavior changes. RESULTS: The mean BMI at baseline was 33.48, indicating over half of all employees are considered obese. Employees who attended more than one visit showed an increase in whole grain consumption and corresponding weight loss (t-ratio = 2.41, p = 0.02). Age played a significant factor in the rise of systolic blood pressure; employees who attended more visits showed an increase in whole grain consumption and corresponding blood pressure (t-ratio = –2.11, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: RDNs as part of worksite wellness programs, can contribute to improvements in lifestyle behavior changes. These data highlight the need for nutrition intervention at the workplace. Research on nutrition-focused worksite wellness programs is needed to assess the long-term health outcomes related to dietary and lifestyle behavior changes.

scholarly journals Self-Perceived Physical Activity and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Healthy Adolescents during COVID-19: Findings from the DIMENU Pilot Study

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 622
Author(s):  
Angelo Galluccio ◽  
Giovanna Caparello ◽  
Ennio Avolio ◽  
Emanuele Manes ◽  
Simona Ferraro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
The Self ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Mediterranean Diet Adherence ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Impact

The global pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resulted in restrictions which forced adolescents to stay at home and influenced their food habits and lifestyles with potential negative health impact. This study aims to investigate the self-reported physical activity (PA) and eating habits related to the consumption of Mediterranean foods in a sample of adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown enrolled into the DIMENU study. A web survey was launched for 91 adolescents (aged 15–17 years) to assess their adherence to the Mediterranean Diet using the KIDMED test and lifestyle habits using a questionnaire designed following recommendations by Italian National Institute of Health (ISS score). Our results indicate that most of the sample declared no changes in eating habits and PA without sex differences. After dividing the sample into active and sedentary groups based on the self-perceived PA, we found that KIDMED and ISS scores were significantly higher (p = 0.0028 and p = 0.0001, respectively) in active adolescents. Moreover, KIDMED was positively correlated with ISS only in active adolescents (r = 0.311, p = 0.0185). In conclusion, our data underline the impact of the PA on the Mediterranean diet adherence in adolescents during the lockdown, suggesting the usefulness of promoting wellness programs directed towards inactive individuals to increase their awareness on the importance of healthy lifestyles.

scholarly journals Body Composition in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Before and After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Longitudinal Prospective Study in a Rural Village Struck by the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110477
Author(s):  
Oscar H. Del Brutto ◽  
Robertino M. Mera ◽  
Denisse A. Rumbea ◽  
Pedro Pérez ◽  
Bettsy Y. Recalde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
The Body ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background: Information on the body composition of inhabitants of remote communities during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is limited. Using a longitudinal population-based study design, we assessed the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and changes in body composition. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults living in a rural Ecuadorian village received body composition determinations before and 1 year after the pandemic as well as serological tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The independent association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and abnormalities in body composition at follow-up was assessed by fitting linear mixed models for longitudinal data. Results: Of 327 enrolled individuals, 277 (85%) received baseline and follow-up body composition determinations, and 175 (63%) of them became SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. Overall, diet and physical activity deteriorated during the follow-up. Multivariate random-effects generalized least squares regression models that included the impact of time and seropositivity on follow-up body composition, showed that neither variable contributed to a worsening in body composition. Multivariate logistic regression models disclosed that the serological status at follow-up cannot be predicted by differences in body composition and other baseline covariates. Conclusions: Study results suggest no increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection among older adults with abnormal body composition and no significant changes as a result of worse physical activity and dietary habits or seropositivity during the length of the study. Together with a previous study in the same population that showed decrease in hand-grip strength after SARS-CoV-2, results confirm that dynapenia (and not sarcopenia) is associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults.

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