The goal of the project is to develop, implement, and evaluate, through a randomized controlled trial at a worksite, an intervention to promote increased physical activity behavior and healthier eating behavior to reduce overweight and obesity among elementary school personnel.

BACKGROUND:

The dramatic increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in the United States during the past two decades is related to increased cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. With 63.9% of working-age adults employed, worksites are targets for prevention and intervention programs to control overweight and obesity. Worksite interventions have the potential to reach a large number of individuals in a common and shared environment.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

This is a group-randomized trial involving 20 elementary schools in Jefferson Parish public schools. Schools will be the unit of randomization; 10 schools will be randomly allocated to implement the intervention, and 10 schools will serve as controls. The primary aim of the program is to reduce mean body weight. Secondary aims relate to changes at both the individual level and the environmental level. The intervention will address the two major determinants of overweight and obesity: physical activity and diet. A School Wellness Committee at each site will be instrumental in identifying and implementing components of the intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy adults with no contraindications to participating in an intervention to improve eating and exercise behaviors
• Healthy adults with no contraindications to participating in any of the measurement procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to participate in routine physical activity