Abstract
Background/objectives:To determine the effects of a low-fat plant-based diet program on anthropometric and biochemical measures in a multicenter corporate setting.Subjects/methods:Employees from 10 sites of a major US company with body mass index ⩾25 kg/m2 and/or previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were randomized to either follow a low-fat vegan diet, with weekly group support and work cafeteria options available, or make no diet changes for 18 weeks. Dietary intake, body weight, plasma lipid concentrations, blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) were determined at baseline and 18 weeks.Results:Mean body weight fell 2.9 kg and 0.06 kg in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P<0.001). Total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol fell 8.0 and 8.1 mg/dl in the intervention group and 0.01 and 0.9 mg/dl in the control group (P<0.01). HbA1C fell 0.6 percentage point and 0.08 percentage point in the intervention and control group, respectively (P<0.01).Among study completers, mean changes in body weight were −4.3 kg and −0.08 kg in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P<0.001). Total and LDL cholesterol fell 13.7 and 13.0 mg/dl in the intervention group and 1.3 and 1.7 mg/dl in the control group (P<0.001). HbA1C levels decreased 0.7 percentage point and 0.1 percentage point in the intervention and control group, respectively (P<0.01).Conclusions:An 18-week dietary intervention using a low-fat plant-based diet in a corporate setting improves body weight, plasma lipids, and, in individuals with diabetes, glycemic control.
Highlights
Two-thirds of Americans are currently overweight, half of whom are obese.[1]
Employers have an economic interest in employee health, given that obesity is associated with increased use of sick leave and disability expenditures,[3] reduced job productivity and increased absenteeism.[4]
MATERIALS AND METHODS Study population Men and women 418 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) X25 kg/m2 and/or a previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were recruited through advertisements and group meetings at 10 Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) corporate offices encompassing over 20 000 employees, in Tucson, Arizona; San Diego, California; Lakeland, Florida; Macon, Georgia; Chevy Chase, Maryland; 1Clinical Research, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington, DC, USA and 2Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
Summary
Two-thirds of Americans are currently overweight, half of whom are obese.[1]. The workplace is an ideal location for nutritional interventions. It is where many individuals make dietary choices, receive health information and spend much of their day. Employers have an economic interest in employee health, given that obesity is associated with increased use of sick leave and disability expenditures,[3] reduced job productivity and increased absenteeism.[4] In a 2010 study, the total cost of obesity in the workplace was estimated to be $73.1 billion, 41% of which could be attributed to reduced productivity, 18% to absenteeism and 41% to medical expenditures.[4]
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