Comparison of Workplace Obesity Management Programs

November 12, 2013 updated by: Ron Goetzel, Emory University

Environmental Approaches for Obesity Management at Dow

The purpose of this study is to design and demonstrate the feasibility of implementing moderate and intensive environmental obesity prevention programs at major worksites.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND:

More than half of all Americans are overweight or obese, and the prevalence of these risk factors has increased dramatically in the past decade. Obesity is a risk factor for several chronic illnesses, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The national medical cost that is attributed to obesity is estimated to be between $60 and $93 billion. Business leaders are becoming increasingly aware of the human and economic burden that poor health imposes on their workers. Many employers have invested in health promotion and disease prevention programs aimed at reducing the prevalence of obesity in the workplace through the encouragement of physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet, and improved management of health risk factors. Employers continue to seek innovative and evidence-based programs that can be implemented in the workplace to address a growing public health epidemic that also adversely affects worker productivity.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

The primary objective of this study will be to evaluate the effect of introducing two levels of environmental programs, in addition to existing individualized programs, at reducing obesity in the workplace. Five outcomes will be evaluated: 1) body mass index and other weight-related biometric measures; 2) behavioral health risk factors; 3) weight-related health conditions; 4) health care utilization and medical expenditures; and 5) employee productivity measured in terms of reduced absenteeism and on-the-job presenteeism. The study will also include an assessment of costs and benefits of the two programs, including the medical, absenteeism, and productivity benefits, and an assessment of the impact of the programs on the worksite climate. Twelve Dow chemical companies will participate in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to a moderate environmental program, an intensive environmental program, or a control group, which will receive individualized treatment only. The moderate program will include inexpensive environmental changes (e.g., prompts and reminders). In the high intensity program, senior managers will assist in the development of a worksite culture that is broadly supportive of improved weight and health management by employees. Annual health screening and biometrics data along with administrative medical claims, absence records, and productivity survey data will be analyzed to determine program impacts. Non-experimental statistical methods will be used to control the differences that remain across sites after randomization. The study will also produce extensive information about how employers can successfully implement environmental programs to reduce obesity at worksites.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

5124

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Active employees at any of 12 participating company locations of The Dow Chemical Company
  • Participants must be must be between 18 and 70 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

  • The Dow Chemical Company employees located at a facility other than one of the 12 study sites

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: High intensity environmental intervention
Intense intervention
Behavioral: Diet
Healthy Choices in vending machines; Healthy Choices in cafeteria; Catering (Healthy Choices in site meetings, shutdowns, OT meals, etc.); Targeted Messages: Nutrition; Site Based Rewards and Recognition - Individual Employees Weight Management Tracking Program
Behavioral: Exercise
Walking Paths/Routes; Weight Management Tracking Program; Targeted Messages: Physical Activity; Site Based Rewards and Recognition - Individual Employees
Behavioral: Environmental Obesity Program - Healthy Culture
Site Goal Setting; Work Group Alignment to Site Goals; Reporting to Senior Leadership; Leadership Training; Site Leadership, Cross Discipline Teams, Work Groups, Healthy Culture Focal Point Rewards and Recognition
Experimental: Moderate intensity environmental intervention
Moderate intervention
Behavioral: Diet
Healthy Choices in vending machines; Healthy Choices in cafeteria; Catering (Healthy Choices in site meetings, shutdowns, OT meals, etc.); Targeted Messages: Nutrition; Site Based Rewards and Recognition - Individual Employees Weight Management Tracking Program
Behavioral: Exercise
Walking Paths/Routes; Weight Management Tracking Program; Targeted Messages: Physical Activity; Site Based Rewards and Recognition - Individual Employees
No Intervention: Individual intervention only
Control

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Prevalence of obesity
Time Frame: Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Weight-related risk factors
Time Frame: Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Overall health and well-being
Time Frame: Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Healthcare utilization and expenditures
Time Frame: Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Employee productivity measures (i.e., absenteeism and presenteeism)
Time Frame: Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Return on investment (measured at Year 2)
Time Frame: Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2
Measured at baseline and at the end of years 1 and 2

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Emory University

Collaborators

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ron Z. Goetzel, PhD, Emory University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

October 1, 2004

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2008

Study Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 20, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 21, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

July 22, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

November 14, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 12, 2013

Last Verified

November 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB00009301
  • R01HL079546 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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