Combining environmental and individual weight management interventions in a work setting: results from the Dow chemical study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of environmental weight loss interventions alone versus in combination with an individual intervention.
METHODS: A quasi-experimental design compared outcomes for two levels of environmental interventions and for participants who did or did not simultaneously self-select into an individually focused weight loss intervention (YW8). Analysis of covariance and logistic regression techniques were used to examine risk outcomes.
RESULTS: Employees who participated in YW8 were no more successful at losing weight than those exposed to only the environmental interventions. Approximately, 13.5% of each group lost at least 5% of their body weight; overall changes in mean body weight and body mass index were negligible in both groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Simple worksite environmental modifications may help with weight maintenance, but are not likely to result in substantial weight reductions even when combined with low-intensity individual interventions.