Increase in Physical Activity among Low Active and Sedentary Employees

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of a comprehensive Worksite Health Program on Physical Activity (PA) among low active and sedentary employees. METHODS: A 12-week intervention was developed and implemented at a Swiss service company. The multi-modular intervention program included 8 categories such as "exercise", "nutrition" and "relaxation". Each category had multiple offerings (i.e. fitness center, active weight loss program or worksite ergonomics; the total was 28 modules); participants had to select at least one module from each of the eight categories. In a delayed-control-group-design, 29 health and fitness variables were measured at baseline and 3, 6 and 9 months post-baseline. For this investigation PA was recorded in calorie expenditure per week (C/W) and in steps per day (S/D). C/W was measured with a questionnaire, asking for duration, intensity and frequency of PA per week. S/D was measured with a pedometer for 7 days. Six hundred and sixty employees over the age of 40 were invited to participate in the intervention. At baseline participants were grouped into sedentary (S), low active (L) and active (A) according to their level of C/W (S< 400; L= 400-599; A>= 600), S/D (S< 7500; L= 7500-9999; A>= 10000) respectively. Group comparisons were made separately for C/W and S/D using three-way ANOVA with repeated measures. RESULTS: 180 employees enrolled in the intervention (27% out of 660 employees), of which 157 completed the study (23 dropped out: 13%). Regarding C/W the increase for L was 69% (Baseline: 549; 3 month-post: 759; 9 month-post: 930) and for S was 156% (228; 608; 582). Regarding S/D the increase for L was 6% (8727; 9554; 9238) and for S was 27% (6070; 7675; 7703). The A groups showed a decrease in both C/W by 5% (1097; 1048; 1042) and S/D by 3% (12266; 11766; 11892). The differences of groups over time were significant for both C/W (p<.001) and S/D (p=.002). CONCLUSION: This program effectively promotes PA in persons with an initially sedentary lifestyle. The sedentary groups at baseline showed the highest increases in both C/W and S/D at the end of the study; however, persons only reached the "low active" level. A prolonged intervention and follow-up may be necessary to further investigate whether this group can reach the "active" level over the long term.