A small business worksite wellness model for improving health behaviors.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a wellness program delivered by WellSteps, LLC, aimed at improving employee health behaviors in small companies that lack the resources to independently develop and manage a wellness program.

Methods: Analyses are based on 618 employees from five diverse companies that completed an initial personal health assessment.

Results: Exercise and dietary behaviors significantly improved across the five companies. Significant improvements in health perception and life satisfaction also resulted and were associated with improvements in health behaviors. Three of the five companies, each with fewer than 50 employees, were most effective in influencing positive health behaviors, health perceptions, and life satisfaction.

Conclusions: The worksite wellness program effectively improved health behaviors, health perceptions, and life satisfaction.