The association between worksite physical environment and employee nutrition, and physical activity behavior and weight status

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000000180

Randomized Controlled Trial

. 2014 Jul;56(7):779-84.

doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000180.

The association between worksite physical environment and employee nutrition, and physical activity behavior and weight status

Fabio A Almeida¹, Sarah S Wall, Wen You, Samantha M Harden, Jennie L Hill, Blake E Krippendorf, Paul A Estabrooks

Affiliations

Affiliation

¹ From the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise (Dr Almeida, Mrs Wall, Dr Harden, Dr Hill, Mr Krippendorf, and Dr Estabrooks), Virginia Tech; Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics (Dr You), Blacksburg, Va; School of Kinesiology (Dr Harden), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and Department of Family and Community Medicine (Dr Estabrooks), Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Va.

PMID: 24988105
PMCID: PMC4083465
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000180

Randomized Controlled Trial

The association between worksite physical environment and employee nutrition, and physical activity behavior and weight status

Fabio A Almeida et al. J Occup Environ Med. 2014 Jul.

. 2014 Jul;56(7):779-84.

doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000180.

Authors

Fabio A Almeida¹, Sarah S Wall, Wen You, Samantha M Harden, Jennie L Hill, Blake E Krippendorf, Paul A Estabrooks

Affiliation

¹ From the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise (Dr Almeida, Mrs Wall, Dr Harden, Dr Hill, Mr Krippendorf, and Dr Estabrooks), Virginia Tech; Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics (Dr You), Blacksburg, Va; School of Kinesiology (Dr Harden), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and Department of Family and Community Medicine (Dr Estabrooks), Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Va.

PMID: 24988105
PMCID: PMC4083465
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000180

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between worksite physical environment and employee dietary intake, physical activity behavior, and weight status.

Methods: Two trained research assistants completed audits (Checklist of Health Promotion Environments at Worksites) at each worksite (n = 28). Employees (n = 6261) completed a brief health survey before participation in a weight loss program.

Results: Employees' access to outdoor areas was directly associated with lower body mass index (BMI), whereas access to workout facilities within a worksite was associated with higher BMI. The presence of a cafeteria and fewer vending machines was directly associated with better eating habits. Better eating habits and meeting physical activity recommendations were both related to lower BMI.

Conclusions: Selected environmental factors in worksites were significantly associated with employee behaviors and weight status, providing additional intervention targets to change the worksite environment and promote employee weight loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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References

1. World Health Organization. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010. World Health Organization; 2011.
1. Finkelstein EA, DiBonaventura MD, Burgess SM, Hale BC. The costs of obesity in the workplace. J Occup Environ Med. 2010;52(10):971–976. - PubMed
1. Long DA, Reed R, Lehman G. The costs of lifestyle health risks: Obesity. J Occup Environ Med. 2006;48(3):244–251. - PubMed
1. Ricci JA, Chee E. Lost productive time associated with excess weight in the US workforce. J Occup Environ Med. 2005;47(12):1227–1234. - PubMed
1. Benedict MA, Arterburn D. Worksite-based weight loss programs: a systematic review of recent literature. Am J Health Promo. 2008;22:408–416. - PubMed

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[1] World Health Organization. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010. World Health Organization; 2011.

[2] World Health Organization. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010. World Health Organization; 2011.

[3] Finkelstein EA, DiBonaventura MD, Burgess SM, Hale BC. The costs of obesity in the workplace. J Occup Environ Med. 2010;52(10):971–976. - PubMed

[4] Finkelstein EA, DiBonaventura MD, Burgess SM, Hale BC. The costs of obesity in the workplace. J Occup Environ Med. 2010;52(10):971–976. - PubMed

[5] Long DA, Reed R, Lehman G. The costs of lifestyle health risks: Obesity. J Occup Environ Med. 2006;48(3):244–251. - PubMed

[6] Long DA, Reed R, Lehman G. The costs of lifestyle health risks: Obesity. J Occup Environ Med. 2006;48(3):244–251. - PubMed

[7] Ricci JA, Chee E. Lost productive time associated with excess weight in the US workforce. J Occup Environ Med. 2005;47(12):1227–1234. - PubMed

[8] Ricci JA, Chee E. Lost productive time associated with excess weight in the US workforce. J Occup Environ Med. 2005;47(12):1227–1234. - PubMed

[9] Benedict MA, Arterburn D. Worksite-based weight loss programs: a systematic review of recent literature. Am J Health Promo. 2008;22:408–416. - PubMed

[10] Benedict MA, Arterburn D. Worksite-based weight loss programs: a systematic review of recent literature. Am J Health Promo. 2008;22:408–416. - PubMed

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The association between worksite physical environment and employee nutrition, and physical activity behavior and weight status

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The association between worksite physical environment and employee nutrition, and physical activity behavior and weight status

Authors

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Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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