Are Hospital Workers Healthy?: A Study of Cardiometabolic, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Obesity Among Hospital Workers.

Objective: This study evaluated the cardiometabolic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors associated with weight status among hospital employees.

Methods: A total of n = 924 employees across the six hospitals in Texas participated in this cross-sectional study, 2012 to 2013. Association between weight status and waist circumference, blood pressure, biomarkers, diet, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and psychosocial factors was assessed.

Workplace health: engaging business leaders to combat obesity.

This article explores how employers can be part of the solution to obesity by offering workplace wellness programs and facilitating opportunities for physical activity, access to healthier foods and beverages, and incentives for disease management and prevention to help prevent weight gain among their employees.

What's the hard return on employee wellness programs?

Employee wellness programs have often been viewed as a nice extra, not a strategic imperative. But the data demonstrate otherwise, according to Berry, of Texas A&M University; Mirabito, of Baylor University; and Baun, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Their research shows that the ROI on comprehensive, well-run employee wellness programs is impressive, sometimes as high as six to one.

CAN DO Houston: a community-based approach to preventing childhood obesity.

Background: Comprehensive, community-based efforts may reduce rates of childhood obesity.

Community Context: Almost half of the children in Houston are overweight or obese, even though Houston has many available resources that support good nutrition, physical activity, and prevention of weight gain among children.

Methods: We used existing resources to implement a community-based, childhood obesity prevention initiative in 2 low-income neighborhoods in Houston.