Publications by authors named "Lillian Sonnenberg"
Background: Physicians are expected to serve as role models for healthy lifestyles, but long work hours reduce time for healthy behaviors. A hospital-based physical activity intervention could improve physician health and increase counseling about exercise.
Methods: We conducted a two-phase intervention among 104 medical residents at a large hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Background: Preventing obesity requires maintenance of healthy eating behaviors over time. Food labels and strategies that increase visibility and convenience of healthy foods (choice architecture) promote healthier choices, but long-term effectiveness is unknown.
Purpose: Assess effectiveness of traffic-light labeling and choice architecture cafeteria intervention over 24 months.
Practical methods of assessing resting energy expenditure (REE) could be useful in large populations of overweight and obese individuals during phases of weight loss and weight-loss maintenance to address weight regain. We compared predicted and measured REE using the MedGem handheld device and a traditional, indirect calorimeter in middle-aged men and women who were overweight and obese (body mass index ≥ 25.0 and <40.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: We surveyed customers in a hospital cafeteria in Boston, Massachusetts before and after implementation of traffic light food labeling to determine the effect of labels on customers' awareness and purchase of healthy foods.
Methods: Cafeteria items were identified as red (unhealthy), yellow (less healthy), or green (healthy). Customers were interviewed before (N=166) and after (N=223) labeling was implemented.
Background: Effective strategies are needed to address obesity, particularly among minority and low-income individuals.
Purpose: To test whether a two-phase point-of-purchase intervention improved food choices across racial, socioeconomic (job type) groups.
Design: A 9-month longitudinal study from 2009 to 2010 assessing person-level changes in purchases of healthy and unhealthy foods following sequentially introduced interventions.
Background: Many employers are now providing wellness programs to help employees make changes in diet and exercise behaviors. Improving health outcomes and reducing costs will depend on whether employees sustain lifestyle changes and maintain a healthy weight over time.
Purpose: To determine if a 9-month maintenance intervention immediately following a 10-week worksite exercise and nutrition program would prevent regain of the weight lost during the program.
Objectives: We assessed whether a 2-phase labeling and choice architecture intervention would increase sales of healthy food and beverages in a large hospital cafeteria.
Methods: Phase 1 was a 3-month color-coded labeling intervention (red = unhealthy, yellow = less healthy, green = healthy). Phase 2 added a 3-month choice architecture intervention that increased the visibility and convenience of some green items.
Objective: In a cohort of employees participating in a worksite nutrition and physical activity program, we compared program completion and changes in cardiovascular risk factors by baseline body mass index.
Methods: In 2007, 774 employees enrolled in a 10 week program at a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Program completion and change in weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure were compared between obese (body mass index≥30), overweight (body mass index=25-29.
Objectives: To examine the relationship between habitual dietary patterns and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in women and to identify foci for preventive nutrition interventions.
Research Methods And Procedures: Dietary patterns, nutrient intake, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and MetS risk factors were characterized in 1615 Framingham Offspring-Spouse Study (FOS) women. Dietary pattern subgroups were compared for MetS prevalence and CVD risk factor status using logistic regression and analysis of covariance.