"Working for You" Workplace Obesity Intervention

Overview

The purpose of this study is to test a workplace intervention program targeted at low SES workers. Working in partnership with BJC HealthCare, we will test an innovative multi-level intervention that includes an interactive obesity treatment program (iOTA) using SMS text messaging. The iOTA intervention will be embedded in a newly described Healthy Workplace Participatory Program, which incorporates employee participation in decision making to produce changes in the workplace environment that are acceptable, effective, and sustainable. These nested interventions will be tested a large delayed-start group-randomized trial. This study will rigorously test readily scalable interventions that can be translated to other work settings to reduce obesity and diabetes risk among low SES workers, a group at high risk for these disorders. This pragmatic clinical trial will advance the long-term goal of enabling employers and employees to reduce obesity and obesity-associated illnesses including diabetes.

Specific Aim: Test a multi-level worksite weight loss intervention to help workers attain and maintain healthy weight. Investigators propose a new group-level participatory wellness program engaging all employees within intervention work groups. The proposed workplace participatory program will assist work groups to adapt and deploy interventions that change their work environments to support healthy eating and physical activity. Nested within this group-level intervention for all workers, obese (BMI\>30) workers will be offered participation in an individual-level interactive obesity treatment approach (iOTA) intervention based on assessment of individual behavior risks, collaborative goal-setting with a health coach, and use of an interactive text system to provide ongoing support and self-monitoring of behavior change goals. Investigators will test these interventions in a delayed-start group randomized trial in 22 work groups (total workers = 990, obese workers = 308). Specific Aim A: Implement and test a healthy workplace participatory program (HWPP) to promote healthy eating and healthy physical activity among all workers through changes in the work environment. Hypothesis: Workers in intervention groups will show improvements in healthy eating and activity compared to workers in control groups. Specific Aim B: Implement and test an innovative Individual Obesity Treatment Approach (iOTA) in conjunction with changes in work environment. Hypothesis: Obese workers offered the iOTA intervention will lose weight over 24 month follow-up when compared to obese control group workers.