Workplace Intervention Including Exercise and Nutrition in Obese Office Workers

Experimental: Intervention group

The IG will participate in a daily supervised 6-month workplace program (during working hours) including: a. exercise (flexibility, balance, strength, aerobic), and b. counseling and educational activities for healthy diet and hydration.

Sonstiges: Workplace combined (exercise and nutrition) intervention

The IG will participate in a supervised 6-month combined intervention program (exercise and nutrition), which will take place inside the workplace settings during working hours. In more detail, the IG will participate, every working day (5 days/week), in a 6-month supervised combined chair-based exercise program (120 training sessions; 25-40 min/day), including chair based seated and chair-assisted standing exercises to improve flexibility, balance, strength and aerobic capacity. Except exercise, the intervention program consisted of weekly counseling and educational activities in healthy diet and proper hydration using presentations, leaflets, individual and group sessions with nutritionist, use of applications for proper hydration, use of goal-setting cards for healthy options

Kein Eingriff: Control group

The CG did not participate in any intervention.

Body fat

Body fat (BF): BF% will be assessed using the bioelectrical impedance method (Maltron 900).

Body circumferences

The waist and hip circumferences will be measured using an ergonomic circumference measuring tape (Seca 201).

Blood pressure

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured, using an electronic upper arm blood pressure monitor (A&D-UA-851).

Respiratory function

Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) will be measured, using a portable spirometer (Micro, Medical, Micro).

Lipidemic profile

A blood sample will be obtained after overnight fasting (12 h), as previously described [37]. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides will be determined using a biochemical analyzer (Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Z 1145; Zafiropoulos Diagnostica S.A., Koropi, Greece), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) will be calculated using the Friedewald equation.

Lower body flexibility:

The sit-and-reach test will be performed using a Flex-Tester box (Novel Products Inc., Rockton, IL, USA).

Static balance

The single-limb stance test (with eyes opened) was performed, as previously described by Rinne et al.

Dynamic balance:

The timed up-and-go test was performed, as previously described by Rikli and Jones.

Handgrip strength

Maximal isometric handgrip strength will be assessed using a portable hydraulic dynamometer (Jamar 5030J1, Horsham, USA).

Aerobic capacity:

The YMCA 3 min step test was used, which will be performed following the metronome cadence (96 beats per minute; 4 steps per cycle). The participants' HR will be measured 1 min following the termination of the step test.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet

The adherence to the Mediterranean diet will be assessed before and after the 6-month period using the specific Mediterranean Diet Score (range of total score: 0-55) [34-35]. The MedDietScore measures the weekly consumption of the following 9 food groups: non-refined cereals (whole grain bread and pasta, brown rice, etc), fruit, vegetables, legumes, potatoes, fish, red meat and products, poultry, full fat dairy products (like cheese, yoghurt, milk), as well as olive oil and alcohol intake [35].