A new study suggests that aggressive lifestyle interventions in the workplace can significantly reduce an employee's chance of developing diabetes.
The study's lead author, Carla Miller, a professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University, compared two groups of people identified as "pre-diabetes." One of the groups received the typical, written advice on losing weight. The other group took part in a 16-week lifestyle intervention program.
Those selected to take part in the study had body mass indexes of at least 25 and fasting glucose levels of between 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter.
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Intervention program participants attended weekly meetings with dietitians, who encouraged them to set small goals for health improvement in terms of diet and exercise. The others only went to one informational session during the 16-week period and received a packet on weight loss advice.
Three months after the program's completion, the group that partook in the intervention reported much better health results. The average intervention participant lost 5.5 percent of his body weight, compared to an average of only 0.5 percent for the control group. The program participants also lowered their glucose levels by twice as much, on average, as the control group members.
Although some experts have cast doubt on the effectiveness of corporate wellness programs in reducing corporate health costs, this study suggests that for employees interested in losing weight or improving their health, the workplace is an ideal setting to learn how to do so. That's the one of the few places you're guaranteed to go regularly, after all.
"Adults spend a large portion of their time at work. This study shows that it is not only feasible to implement a comprehensive lifestyle intervention at the work site – it is an effective way to prevent disease," Miller said.
"And this current study suggests the regular access to lifestyle coaching plays a role in helping people lose weight," she added.
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