Skip to main content
Log in

Employee weight management through health coaching

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive health coaching intervention at lowering weight. METHODS: The study involved 5405 employees aged 18–85, during 2001–2008. RESULTS: Average body mass index (BMI) significantly decreased from 32.1 at baseline to 31.4 at 3 months, 31.0 at 6 months, and 30.6 at 12 months. Decreasing BMI was more pronounced in older age groups and among women, those using weight loss medication, those with higher BMI, and those with higher motivation and confidence to make behavior changes. When the effects of these variables on the decreasing trend in BMI were simultaneously estimated, only baseline classifications of BMI, health status, and confidence remained significant. Change in BMI through 12 months was −0.7% for those with normal weight, −2.0% for overweight, −3.6% for obese, and −7.1% for morbidly obese individuals at baseline. Among morbidly obese individuals, decrease in BMI through 12 months was −7.6% for those with “high” confidence to lose weight at baseline vs −4.4% for those with low confidence. Better health status at baseline is also related to more pronounced weight loss. CONCLUSION: Interactive health coaching significantly lowered BMI among participants through 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chapman LS, Lesch N, Baun MP. The role of health and wellness coaching in worksite health promotion. Am J Health Promot 2007; 21: (suppl 1–10), iii.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bennett GA, Moore J, Vaughan T, et al. Strengthening motivational interviewing skills following initial training: a randomized trial of workplace-based reflective practice. Addict Behav 2007; 32: 2963–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Stacey D, O’Connor AM, Graham ID, et al. Randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of an intervention to implement evidence-based patient decision support in a nursing call centre. J Telemed Telecare 2006; 12: 410–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Young D, Furler J, Vale M, et al. Patient Engagement and Coaching for Health: The PEACH study—a cluster randomized controlled trial using the telephone to coach people with type 2 diabetes to engage with their GPs to improve diabetes care: a study protocol. BMC Fam Pract 2007; 8: 20.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Butterworth S, Linden A, McClay W, et al. Effect of motivational interviewing-based lifestyle coaching on employees’ physical and mental health status. J Occup Health Psychol 2006; 11: 358–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bruno JL, Heimes S. Driving behavior change with interactive programs. Available at: http://go.optumhealth.com/obmwp5/, 2008 (last accessed 26-12-08).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Van Wier MF, Ariens GA, Dekkers JC, et al. Phone and e-mail counseling are effective for weight management in an overweight working population: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2009; 9: 6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Tucker LA, Cook AJ, Nokes NR, et al. Telephone-based diet and exercise coaching and a weight-loss supplement result in weight and fat loss in 120 men and women. Am J Health Promot 2008; 23: 121–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss/ (last accessed 26-12-08)

  10. Eisen M, Zellman GL, McAlister AL. A Health Belief Model-Social Learning Theory approach to adolescents’ fertility control: findings from a controlled field trial. Health Educ Q 1992; 19: 249–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Prochaska JO, Norcross JC, DiClemente CC. Changing for good: the revolutionary program that explains the six stages of change and teaches you how to free yourself from bad habits. New York, W. Morrow, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Prochaska JO, Velicer WF. The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. Am J Health Promot 1997; 12: 38–48.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Miller WR, Rollnick S. Motivational interviewing: Preparing people for change, 2nd ed. New York, Guilford Press, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Screening for Depression, Topic Page. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsdepr.htm, March 2009 (last accessed 12-08-09)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Aldana SG, Greenlaw RL, Diehl HA, et al. The behavioral and clinical effects of therapeutic lifestyle change on middle-aged adults. Prev Chronic Dis 2006; 3: A05.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Strecher VJ, DeVellis BM, Becker MH, et al. The role of self-efficacy in achieving health behavior change. Health Educ Behav 1986; 13: 73–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Marcus BH, Selby VC, Niaura RS, et al. Self-efficacy and the stages of exercise behavior change. Res Q Exerc Sport 1992; 63: 60–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Merrill RM, Madanat H, Kelley AT, et al. Nurse and physician counseling of patients about tobacco smoking in Jordan. Promot Edu 2008; 15: 9–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Vale MJ, Jelinek MV, Best JD, et al. COACH Study Group. Coaching patients On Achieving Cardiovascular Health (COACH): A multicenter randomized trial in patients with coronary heart disease. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163: 2775–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Fahey KF, Rao SM, Douglas MK, et al. Nurse coaching to explore and modify patient attitudinal barriers interfering with effective cancer pain management. Oncol Nurs Forum 2008; 35: 233–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. M. Merrill PhD, MPH.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Merrill, R.M., Aldana, S.G. & Bowden, D.E. Employee weight management through health coaching. Eat Weight Disord 15, e52–e59 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325280

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325280

Keywords

Navigation