Do Change in Life Style Improve Work Ability?

The goal of rehabilitation, in general, is to help people to reach and maintain their optimal function and copying capabilities and to promote independence and participation in society. For occupational rehabilitation is the goal also to increase function and work ability to prevent the individuals permanent to fall out of working life. People with high BMI needs beside work rehabilitation also focus on life style changes to reduce consequences of obesity. The Central Norway Regional Health Authority (HMN RHF) has initiated action to reduce work absence and consequence of obesity by introducing a work related rehabilitation program for people with BMI above 30. This program combines work participation and life style changes and exists only in two institutions in Norway. The goal of the program is to increase function and work ability and weight loss. The program is new, and few documents exist on the effect and the correlation between life style changes and work ability. There is also need to question whether obesity is the reason for work absence or is there other factors that affect work ability. This trial wants to follow-up a group of people who have been participating occupational rehabilitation at Muritunet.