Effectiveness of phone and e-mail lifestyle counseling for long term weight control among overweight employees.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of a weight-management program with personal counseling by phone or e-mail.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial of a 6-month program comparing two modes of intervention delivery (phone, n = 462; Internet, n = 464) with self-directed materials (control, n = 460), among overweight employees. Change in body weight after 2 years was the main outcome.

Comparative effectiveness of lifestyle interventions on cardiovascular risk factors among a Dutch overweight working population: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Overweight (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m²) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, posing a considerable burden to public health. The main aim of this study was to investigate lifestyle intervention effects on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy overweight employees.

Methods: Participants were 276 healthy overweight employees (69.

Phone and e-mail counselling are effective for weight management in an overweight working population: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The work setting provides an opportunity to introduce overweight (i.e., Body Mass Index >or= 25 kg/m2) adults to a weight management programme, but new approaches are needed in this setting.

Improving work style behavior in computer workers with neck and upper limb symptoms.

Introduction: The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a group-based interactive work style intervention in improving work style behavior.

Methods: Computer workers with neck and upper limb symptoms were randomised into the work style group (WS, N = 152), the work style and physical activity group (WSPA, N = 156), or the usual care group (N = 158). Both intervention groups received the same work style intervention but the WSPA group also received a lifestyle physical activity intervention.

The effectiveness of a work style intervention and a lifestyle physical activity intervention on the recovery from neck and upper limb symptoms in computer workers.

This study assessed the effectiveness of a single intervention targeting work style and a combined intervention targeting work style and physical activity on the recovery from neck and upper limb symptoms. Computer workers with frequent or long-term neck and upper limb symptoms were randomised into the work style group (WS, n=152), work style and physical activity group (WSPA, n=156), or usual care group (n=158). The WS and WSPA group attended six group meetings.

A systematic review of the relation between physical capacity and future low back and neck/shoulder pain.

The results of longitudinal studies reporting on the relation between physical capacity and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders have never been reviewed in a systematic way. The objective of the present systematic review is to investigate if there is evidence that low muscle strength, low muscle endurance, or reduced spinal mobility are predictors of future low back or neck/shoulder pain. Abstracts found by electronic databases were checked on several inclusion criteria.

The (cost-)effectiveness of a lifestyle physical activity intervention in addition to a work style intervention on the recovery from neck and upper limb symptoms in computer workers.

Background: Neck and upper limb symptoms are frequently reported by computer workers. Work style interventions are most commonly used to reduce work-related neck and upper limb symptoms but lifestyle physical activity interventions are becoming more popular to enhance workers health and reduce work-related symptoms. A combined approach targeting work style and lifestyle physical activity seems promising, but little is known on the effectiveness of such combined interventions.

Is an imbalance between physical capacity and exposure to work-related physical factors associated with low-back, neck or shoulder pain?

Objectives: This study investigates whether an imbalance between physical capacity and exposure to work-related physical factors is associated with low-back, neck, or shoulder pain.

Methods: Data of the longitudinal study on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, stress, and health (SMASH), with a follow-up of 3 years (N=1789), were used. At baseline, physical capacity (isokinetic lifting strength, static muscle endurance, and mobility of the spine) and exposure to work-related physical factors were assessed.

ALIFE@Work: a randomised controlled trial of a distance counselling lifestyle programme for weight control among an overweight working population [ISRCTN04265725].

Background: The prevalence of overweight is increasing and its consequences will cause a major public health burden in the near future. Cost-effective interventions for weight control among the general population are therefore needed. The ALIFE@Work study is investigating a novel lifestyle intervention, aimed at the working population, with individual counselling through either phone or e-mail.

The effects of a graded activity intervention for low back pain in occupational health on sick leave, functional status and pain: 12-month results of a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Behaviorally oriented graded activity interventions have been suggested for sick-listed workers with low back pain on return to work, but have not been extensively evaluated.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-four workers were randomly assigned to either a graded activity intervention (n = 67) or usual care (n = 67) and followed-up for 12 months.

Results: The graded activity group returned back to work faster with a median of 54 days compared to 67 days in the usual care group.

Effectiveness of a return-to-work intervention for subacute low-back pain.

The effectiveness of return-to-work intervention for subacute low-back pain on work absenteeism, pain severity, and functional status was examined by means of a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Publications in English that met the selection criteria were identified in a computer-aided search and assessed for methodological quality. A best-evidence synthesis was performed instead of statistical data pooling, because of the heterogeneity of the interventions and study populations.

Prognostic factors related to recurrent low-back pain and sickness absence.

Objectives: This study aimed at determining the prognostic factors related to the recurrence of low-back pain and future sickness absence due to low-back pain.

Methods: Data were used from a prospective cohort study in a working population with a 3-year follow-up period. They were collected with annual questionnaires.

High physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain.

Objectives: This study investigates the relationship between physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain.

Methods: A prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 3 years (1994-1998) was performed among a working population. At the beginning of the study, physical load at work was quantified by means of video recordings.