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Friday, June 04, 2010
New research examines benefits of weight management versus weight loss
  
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StayWell Health Management
Barbara Tabor, APR 651-230-9192
barbaratabor@comcast.net

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New research examines benefits of weight management versus weight loss


ST. PAUL (June 4, 2010) Losing weight is a challenge in even the best of circumstances. But for people who work in an environment that does not support or encourage healthy choices, maintaining a healthy weight can be just as challenging as losing weight. Recent research from StayWell Health Management examines the benefits of long-term weight management versus short-term weight loss and reveals that not only is weight management important for individual employees, but it can have a positive impact on a company’s bottom line.
 
A key role for prevention specialists, population health planners, and employers alike is to manage expectations when it comes to affecting weight maintenance and weight loss in large populations. Unlike weight loss challenges and commercial weight loss programs that focus more on individual extraordinary weight loss, a more credible goal for the vast majority of people is to seek small sustainable changes with a goal of healthy eating and exercise for life.
 
“People often equate successfully managing your weight with losing a significant amount of weight, but past research has shown that even a modest weight loss of 2 pounds can have clinical benefits,” said Paul Terry, president and CEO of StayWell Health Management. “And what’s more, even this modest level of success achieved across a large population can impact broader public health outcomes and health care costs.”
 
According to the study conducted by StayWell, health coaching, which has proven to be an effective way to address several health risk factors, can play an instrumental role in long-term weight management. StayWell researchers found that people who completed the telephone-based health coaching program lost an average of 3 pounds (versus about 1 pound for those who did not complete the program) based on follow-up assessment an average of four months after the program ended.
 
Long term, those who successfully lost weight lost an average of nearly 15 pounds. The range of weight loss experienced among these successful program completers was 1 pound to 117 pounds. In addition to long-term weight management, people who completed the health coaching program were more likely to improve their eating habits and their physical activity levels.
 
“Real, lasting behavior change doesn’t happen overnight. But with the right tools and supportsuch as a health coach and a supportive work environmentindividuals and companies can realize dramatic results,” said Jessica Grossmeier, director of research at StayWell and study co-author. “We see companies that are making great strides to mitigate the impact of overweight and obesity in their work force, and their reward for this effort is a healthier workforce and reduced health care spending.”
 
Weight management in action
Take, for example, the case of Lowe’s Home Improvement. With 240,000 employees eligible for health benefits, Lowe’s conducts an annual health risk assessment to determine which risk factors are most prevalent and works with StayWell Health Management and other health care companies to address and manage those risk factors. According to health risk assessment results, weight is among the top five risk factors for Lowe’s, along with back pain, smoking, nutrition and stress.
 
To manage these risk factors, Lowe’s offers StayWell’s NextSteps health coaching and lifestyle management programs to employees who are at risk for weight in addition to several other topic areas. Employees can sign up for phone-based or mail-based coaching, or an interactive six-week, online program to help them identify and change the behaviors that put them at risk. Thus far, Lowe’s has recorded impressive outcomes in the area of weight management.
 
  • Employees who participated in a NextSteps program reduced their overall health risk by 11 percent, and their risk level for weight was maintained, and those who participated in a phone-based health coaching program achieved even greater risk reduction (13.7 percent) in addition to reducing their weight risk level
  • A total of 501 employees completed the phone-based health coaching program for weight management
  • A combined total of 3,461 pounds was lost among program completers for an average weight loss of 9.25 pounds per person
  • The average body mass index among all participants decreased from 35.3 kg/m2 at pre-assessment to 33.9 kg/m2 at post-assessment; a decrease of 3.9 percent

“Weight has historically been a top risk factor for Lowe’s, but unlike some workplaces, it’s driven more by lifestyle and food choices rather than lack of activity while at work,” said Bob Ihrie, senior vice president of employee rewards and services, Lowe’s Home Improvement. “The NextSteps health coaching and lifestyle management program works for Lowe’s because it offers the reach and flexibility we need to actively engage employees at all of our locations. As a result, our employees are participating and they have managed to successfully lose weight and keep it off.”
 
 
 
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