The proposal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two worksite weight management programs at Duke: Steps to Health (STH) ('usual standard of care') and the more extensive Steps to Health Plus! (STH+). We have added an additional follow-up, by invitation only, for participants in the study who agreed to be contacted for future research.
Steps to Health and Steps to Health Plus! aim to help Duke employees achieve weight loss and maintain healthy weights. We will be following participants in these programs over a two year period. These two groups will be compared with an observational comparison group of employees who meet eligibility criteria but do not take part in the randomized controlled trial. We will assess whether the two programs decrease obesity-related injuries in the workplace and estimate the net costs of the two programs relative to their effectiveness more broadly. In the additional follow-up, we will be assessing factors that may be related to program success. This will include a survey as well as some focus group data.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
550
Steps to Health (STH): The STH curriculum is a 12-month educational program targeting obese employees for healthy lifestyle changes for weight loss. The program includes: * Face-to-face visit with counselor during Month 1 to set specific health goals. * Telephone counseling at 6 and 12 months, coupled with biometric feedback sessions. * Monthly generic health education materials sent via e-mail. * Incentives (up to 1,000 STH dollars \[$100\]) to take part in the program assessments.
The STH+ intervention is an intensive 12-month behavioral intervention targeting obese employees. It is stage-based and works with the participant at his/her level of readiness to change using counseling based on motivational interviewing. STH+ includes: * Face-to-face visit with counselor at Month 1 * Meeting with exercise physiologist in Month 2 * Monthly counseling sessions (in-person in Months 3, 6, 9 and 12, others via telephone) * Meeting with exercise physiologist during Month 5 * Quarterly biometric feedback (Months 3, 6, 9, and 12) * Incentives (up to 1,000 STH dollars \[$100\]) to take part in the program assessments.
Duke University Dept. of Community and Family Medicine
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Weight loss
Determine whether employees participating in STH+ will lose significantly more body mass than participants in STH.
Time frame: ~1-2 years post baseline
Improvement in level of physical activity
Determine whether employees participating in STH+ will experience greater improvements level or amount of physical activity than employees in STH.
Time frame: ~1-2 years post baseline.
Relative impact of the different programs
Determine the relative impact of STH+ and STH on 1) reduction in workplace injuries and associated costs, 2) health care utilization and health claim reimbursements, and 3) absenteeism and presenteeism.
Time frame: ~1-2 years post baseline
Relative cost of different programs
Determine the overall relative impact of STH+ and STH on net program costs.
Time frame: ~1-3 years post baseline
Improvement in nutrition
Determine whether employees participating in STH+ will experience greater improvements in diet, as measured by amount of calories consumed from fat and amount of fruits and vegetables consumed than employees in STH.
Time frame: ~1-2 years post baseline
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