School Worksite Weight Gain Prevention Intervention Study

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3; Phase 2

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Step Ahead; Behavioral: Basic Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01467284

R01CA132941

Details and patient eligibility

About

The proposed site-level randomized trial will test the effectiveness of a work site intervention based on an ecological framework at preventing weight gain among high school employees in Massachusetts. The investigators hypothesis is that the intervention will positively impact healthy dietary patterns and physical activity, perceived organizational commitment, coworker influences, social support, self-efficacy, and self-control, which in turn will positively mediate or moderate the positive associations between the intervention and the primary outcomes (change in weight, BMI, and waist circumference). If effective, the intervention is designed to be generalizable to high school settings across the country and has the potential to reduce the morbidity, mortality and economic costs of overweight and obesity in this important population.

Enrollment: 844 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• work at least 15 hours per week, or approximately half of the school week,
• only work at one school participating in the study,
• not be in a "leadership" position in the school (e.g. principals and vice-principals)
• be able to stand up
• speak English
• plan to be employed at the school for the next 24 months

Exclusion criteria

• work less than 15 hours per week
• work at more than one participating school
• work in a "leadership" position (e.g. principal or vice-principal)
• does not speak English
• unable to stand up

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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844 participants in 2 patient groups

Step Ahead

Experimental group

Description:

Promotion of weight gain prevention among teachers and staff in public high schools through Step Ahead, a comprehensive intervention targeting three levels suggested by the ecological framework health behavior change: organizational school level, interpersonal level, and individual level.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Step Ahead

Basic Intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

Promotion of weight gain prevention among teachers and staff in public high schools through receipt of the workbook print materials and access to website similar to the enhanced intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Basic Intervention