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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bruno JL, Heimes S. Driving behavior change with interactive programs. Available at: http://go.optumhealth.com/obmwp5/, 2008 (last accessed 26-12-08).
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.
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss/ (last accessed 26-12-08)
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.
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.
Prochaska JO, Velicer WF. The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. Am J Health Promot 1997; 12: 38–48.
Miller WR, Rollnick S. Motivational interviewing: Preparing people for change, 2nd ed. New York, Guilford Press, 2002.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights 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
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325280