Participation and cardiovascular risk reduction in a voluntary worksite nutrition and physical activity program.

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=25-29.9), and normal weight (body mass index<25) participants.

Results: At baseline, 63% were obese or overweight and had higher blood pressure and cholesterol compared to normal weight participants. Program completion was 82% and did not differ by body mass index. Mean weight loss was 1.9 kg at end of program (p<0.001) and 0.4 kg at 1 year (p=0.002). At end of program, participants with body mass index≥30 lost 3.0% body weight vs. 2.7% for body mass index=25-29.9 and 1.7% for body mass index<25 (p<0.001), but weight loss at 1 year did not differ by body mass index. Mean cholesterol and blood pressure were lower at end of program and 1 year (all, p<0.005) but did not differ by body mass index.

Conclusions: Worksite programs can successfully initiate cardiovascular risk reduction among employees, but more intensive interventions are needed to make significant improvements in the health of higher risk obese employees.