Retrospective Analysis of Annual Worksite Preventive Health Checkups on Hypertension and Metabolic Syndrome

Association between weight loss, change in physical activity, and change in quality of life following a corporately sponsored, online weight loss program

Background

The physiological benefits associated with corporately sponsored weight loss programs are increasingly well documented. However, less is known about how these programs affect employees’ quality of life (QoL). The purpose of the present analysis was to examine the association between weight loss, change in physical activity, and change in QoL following a corporately sponsored, online weight loss program.

Methods

We examined the relationship between weight loss, self-reported change in physical activity, and change in several QoL indices in 26,658 participants (79% women) after the initial 10 weeks of the online weight loss program. The trend in changes in each QoL index with increasing weight loss and change in physical activity was examined using logistic regression analysis.

Results

We observed greater improvements in each QoL index with increasing weight loss (p-for-trend, < 0.001) as well as with progressive increases in physical activity (p-for-trend, < 0.001). The combination of increasing weight loss and increases in physical activity were associated with the greatest improvements in each QoL index (additive effect). The percentage of employees reporting improvements in QoL (“improved” or “very much improved”) was 64% for energy, 63% for mood, 33% for sleep, 65% for self-confidence, 68% for indigestion, and 39% for musculoskeletal pain.

Conclusions

Among people, who engage with a commercial weight loss program, greater weight loss during the program was associated with greater improvements in QoL, and increases in physical activity further enhanced the QoL-related benefits.

Retrospective Examination of Class Attendance on Corporately Sponsored Weight Loss Programming: The Naturally Slim Experience

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of class participation in participants enrolled in a corporate sponsored commercial weight loss program.

METHODS

We examined 111,262 participants for percent weight loss (primary outcome) using general linear models and weight loss relative to class participation (secondary outcome).

RESULTS

We observed a significant trend (P < 0.001) for achieving significant weight loss for the entire cohort who lost 3.65% (99% CI, 3.62, 3.69) body weight. Individuals taking ≥4 classes (n = 87,346) lost 4.97% (99% CI, 4.53, 4.61). Those taking ≥9 classes (n = 74,525) achieved 4.95% (99% CI, 4.93, 5.01) weight loss. Similar patterns for men and women were observed within each analysis.

CONCLUSION

Overall, participants lost a clinically beneficial (≥3%) amount of weight following class participation and greater class attendance produced a greater weight loss percentage approaching clinical significance (≥5%).

The Efficacy of Re-Engaging in an Employer Sponsored Weight Loss Program

OBJECTIVE

To examine the clinical benefit of re-engaging in a corporate weight loss program.

METHODS

Participants (N = 9885, 72% women) from two large employers. The primary outcome was percent weight change (mean, 95% confidence interval [CI]) across two identical courses using a general linear model analysis. Secondary and tertiary outcomes included the use of financial incentives and those re-engaging in the course between 330 and 450 days, respectively.

RESULTS

We observed no significant effect for financial incentives. The entire cohort exhibited: significant weight loss after Course 1 (-4.93%, 95% CI, -5.04, -4.81), weight regain between Course 1 and Course 2, weight loss after Course 2 (-2.30%, 95% CI, -2.40, -2.23), resulting in significant net weight loss (-4.55%, 95% CI, -4.74, -4.36) that was consistent for both sexes.

CONCLUSION

There is clinically beneficial benefit (≥ 3%) to re-engaging in a corporate weight loss program when re-engagement occurs approximately 1 year later.