Changes in skinfold thickness and waist circumference after 12 and 24 months resulting from the NHF-NRG In Balance-proje
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RESEARCH
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Changes in skinfold thickness and waist circumference after 12 and 24 months resulting from the NHF-NRG In Balance-project Lydia Kwak1*, Stef PJ Kremers2, Math JJM Candel3, Tommy LS Visscher4, Johannes Brug5, Marleen A van Baak6
Abstract Background: More knowledge is needed regarding the effectiveness of weight gain prevention programmes. The present study tested the 12-and 24-month effectiveness of the ‘Netherlands Research programme weight Gain prevention’ (NHF-NRG)-In Balance-project, a worksite-based intervention aimed at the prevention of weight gain. Methods: Twelve worksites (n = 553 participants) were matched and assigned to either intervention or control group. The worksites and employees of the intervention group received individual (i.e. pedometer, computertailored advice) and environmental (i.e. changes in worksite canteen) interventions, directed at physical activity and food intake over 1-year. Differences between the intervention and control group in changes in body weight, BMI, skinfold thickness and waist circumference at 12 and 24 months were examined using multilevel linear regression analyses adjusting for various baseline characteristics (age, gender, BMI, marital status, education and smoking status). Results: A significant greater reduction in skinfold thickness was found in the intervention group than in the control group, both after 12-and 24 months (Unstandardized regression coefficients (B) = -2.52, 95% C.I. -4.58, -0.45; p = 0.018; B = -4.83, 95% C.I. 6.98, -2.67; p < 0.001 respectively). Significant differences were also observed for changes in waist circumferences both at 12 months (B = -1.50, 95% C.I. -2.35, -0.65; p < 0.001) and at 24 months (B = -1.30, 95% C.I. -2.18, -0.42; p = 0.005). No significant changes were observed for weight and BMI. Conclusions: The project was effective with regard to changes in skinfold thickness and waist circumference both at 12 and 24 months. It supports the usefulness of worksite-based prevention, especially regarding maintenance of behavioral changes.
Background Data from around the world show alarming increases in the prevalence of obesity during past decades [1]. The situation in the Netherlands is no exception, with comparable increases in the number of individuals suffering from overweight and obesity as other European countries. In order to tackle this health issue it has been suggested that efforts should focus on promoting small life-style changes and not on producing weight loss, but on eliminating or reducing the gradual excessive weight gain occurring in people of all ages [2]. However, despite the expanding interest, little is known about the * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
effectiveness of weight gain prevention programmes, as few studies have tested programmes that were designed for this purpose [3,4]. The multidisciplinary research programme ‘Netherlands Research programme weight Gain prevention’ (NHF-NRG) wa
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