200651 FUEL Your Life: Pilot study of a Worksite Diabetes Prevention Program

Monday, November 9, 2009: 2:30 PM

Mark G. Wilson, HSD , Department of Health Promotion & Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Heather M. Bowen, MS, RD, LD , Department of Health Promotion and Behavior- College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Marsha Davis, PhD , School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
David M. DeJoy, PhD , Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Kristin M. Baker, MPH , Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Beth Bynum , Workplace Health Group, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Robert J. Vandenberg, PhD , Terry School of Business, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  
This presentation will share the results of the pilot study of Fuel Your Life (FYL), a worksite weight management program conducted with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). FYL is a translation of the Diabetes Prevention Program that has been adapted to fit the unique characteristics of work organizations and revised based on formative research conducted with UPRR employees. UPRR employees are predominately middle-aged, male blue collar workers at high risk for Type II diabetes due to a high-rate of obesity. FYL is a six month intervention aimed to improve eating and physical activity behaviors and includes a participant self-study, targeted messaging, and peer health coach support. The intervention was followed by a six month maintenance period where participants were encouraged to continue healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Sixty-eight participants enrolled in the program and reflected the UPRR employee population with 81% male, a mean age of 44, and mean body mass index (BMI) of 32. Process data and program effects on the primary measure of BMI and secondary measures of physical activity, eating behaviors, worksite and home environment, and organizational measures will be presented. This pilot study is one example of the translation of a clinically tested intervention to a worksite setting. The issues and barriers of translating research to practice and implications for practitioners will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the session, participants will be able to 1) describe the theoretical and conceptual framework for the intervention, 2) discuss the primary study findings, 3) outline possible actions they may take to modify eating behaviors and physical activity levels of employees, and 4) discuss issues and barriers of translating research to practice.

Keywords: Intervention, Worksite

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted the study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Perspectives in Worksite Health Promotion
See more of: Public Health Education and Health Promotion