Promoting Changes in Obesogenic Behaviors: Does Coworker Social Support Play a Role?

Purpose. To examine the association between worksite social support and changes in diet, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI). Design. Cohort analysis of an underlying randomized, controlled weight gain prevention worksite trial: Promoting Activity and Changes in Eating. Setting. The trial occurred in the greater Seattle area. Subjects. Baseline and follow-up data were obtained on a nested cohort of employees (n = 958–1078) from 33 small- to medium-sized worksites. Measures. Worksite social support, diet, physical activity, and BMI measures were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Analysis. To adjust for multilevel data and multiple time points, we used generalized estimating equations and logistic mixed models. Results. Higher baseline worksite social support was associated with greater changes in fruit and vegetable intake (p= .001; summary food-frequency questions). Conclusion. This study does not support a conclusive relationship between worksite social support and health behavior change.

[1]  B. Thompson,et al.  The association between worksite social support, diet, physical activity and body mass index. , 2011, Preventive medicine.

[2]  C. Abraham,et al.  Systematic review of reviews of intervention components associated with increased effectiveness in dietary and physical activity interventions , 2011, BMC public health.

[3]  S. Lemon,et al.  Perceptions of worksite support and employee obesity, activity, and diet. , 2009, American journal of health behavior.

[4]  Barbara Bruemmer,et al.  Worksite Study Promoting Activity and Changes in Eating (PACE): Design and Baseline Results , 2007, Obesity.

[5]  N. Christakis,et al.  The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network Over 32 Years , 2007, The New England journal of medicine.

[6]  K. Emmons,et al.  The influence of social context on changes in fruit and vegetable consumption: results of the healthy directions studies. , 2007, American journal of public health.

[7]  K. Resnicow,et al.  Body and soul. A dietary intervention conducted through African-American churches. , 2004, American journal of preventive medicine.

[8]  F. Thompson,et al.  Dietary assessment resource manual. , 1994, The Journal of nutrition.

[9]  T. Patterson,et al.  The development of scales to measure social support for diet and exercise behaviors. , 1987, Preventive medicine.

[10]  R. Shephard,et al.  A simple method to assess exercise behavior in the community. , 1969, Canadian journal of applied sport sciences. Journal canadien des sciences appliquees au sport.

[11]  H. Morgenstern,et al.  The associations of social support and other psychosocial factors with mortality and quality of life in the dialysis outcomes and practice patterns study. , 2011, Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN.

[12]  M. Pflanz,et al.  Social Epidemiology , 2005 .