Obesity
Conditions
Keywords
Obesity, Workplace, Intervention, Diet, Exercise
Brief summary
The proposed site-level randomized trial will test the effectiveness of a work site intervention based on an ecological framework at preventing weight gain among high school employees in Massachusetts. The investigators hypothesis is that the intervention will positively impact healthy dietary patterns and physical activity, perceived organizational commitment, coworker influences, social support, self-efficacy, and self-control, which in turn will positively mediate or moderate the positive associations between the intervention and the primary outcomes (change in weight, BMI, and waist circumference). If effective, the intervention is designed to be generalizable to high school settings across the country and has the potential to reduce the morbidity, mortality and economic costs of overweight and obesity in this important population.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALStep Ahead
Promotion of weight gain prevention among teachers and staff in public high schools through Step Ahead, a comprehensive intervention targeting three levels suggested by the ecological framework health behavior change: organizational school level, interpersonal level, and individual level.
BEHAVIORALBasic Intervention
Promotion of weight gain prevention among teachers and staff in public high schools through receipt of the workbook print materials and access to website similar to the enhanced intervention.
Sponsors
University of Massachusetts, Worcester
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* work at least 15 hours per week, or approximately half of the school week, * only work at one school participating in the study, * not be in a leadership position in the school (e.g. principals and vice-principals) * be able to stand up * speak English * plan to be employed at the school for the next 24 months
Exclusion criteria
* work less than 15 hours per week * work at more than one participating school * work in a leadership position (e.g. principal or vice-principal) * does not speak English * unable to stand up
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| High school employee change in weight | 24 months post-baseline | Test the effectiveness of a worksite intervention based on an ecological framework at preventing an increase in weight among high school employees in Massachusetts |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| High school employee change in BMI | 24 months post-baseline | Test the effectiveness of a worksite intervention based on an ecological framework at preventing an increase in BMI among high school employees in Massachusetts |
| High School employee change in waist circumference | 23 months post-baseline | Test the effectiveness of a worksite intervention based on an ecological framework at preventing an increase in waist circumference among high school employees in Massachusetts |
| Weight management behaviors | 24 months post-baseline | Test the effectiveness of a worksite intervention compared to the control condition on physical activity and healthy eating behaviors among high school employees in Massachusetts. |
| High school employee absenteeism | 24 months post-baseline | Test the effectiveness of a work site intervention based on an ecological framework at preventing absenteeism among high school employees in Massachusetts. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed