The association between worksite social support, diet, physical activity and body mass index

Abstract Objective Social support may be associated with improved diet and physical activity—determinants of overweight and obesity. Wellness programs increasingly target worksites. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between worksite social support and dietary behaviors, physical activity, and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Preventive medicine 2011-07, Vol.53 (1), p.53-56
Main Authors: Tamers, Sara L, Beresford, Shirley A.A, Cheadle, Allen D, Zheng, Yingye, Bishop, Sonia K, Thompson, Beti
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Body Mass Index
Diet
Exercise
Female
Fruit
Health Behavior
Health promotion
Healthy food
Humans
Internal Medicine
Lifestyle risk factors
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Activity
Obesity
Obesity - prevention & control
Occupational health
Physical activity
Principal Component Analysis
Social Support
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vegetables
Washington
Weight Loss
Wellness interventions
Workplace - psychology
Worksite
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Summary:Abstract Objective Social support may be associated with improved diet and physical activity—determinants of overweight and obesity. Wellness programs increasingly target worksites. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between worksite social support and dietary behaviors, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI). Method Baseline data were obtained on 2878 employees from 2005 to 2007 from 34 worksites through Promoting Activity and Changes in Eating, a group-randomized weight reduction intervention in Greater Seattle. Worksite social support, diet, physical activity, and BMI were assessed via self-reported questionnaire. Principal component analysis was applied to workgroup questions. To adjust for design effects, random effects models were employed. Results No associations were found with worksite social support and BMI, or with many obesogenic behaviors. However, individuals with higher worksite social support had 14.3% higher (95% CI: 5.6%–23.7%) mean physical activity score and 4% higher (95% CI: 1%–7%) mean fruit and vegetable intake compared to individuals with one-unit lower support. Conclusion Our findings do not support a conclusive relationship between higher worksite social support and obesogenic behaviors, with the exception of physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake. Future studies are needed to confirm these relationships and evaluate how worksite social support impacts trial outcomes.
ISSN:0091-7435
1096-0260
DOI:10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.04.012