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Objective:
To assess the efficacy of worksite weight reduction programs that use meal replacements at high-stress worksites.
Methods:
A 12-week weight loss program was conducted with 492 men and women working in four high-stress occupational groups (police (n=286), hospital health care professionals (n=150), flight attendants (n=25)
and firefighters (n=31)). These occupations were considered high stress because they typically include
a hierarchical organization, environmental hazards, rotating work shifts with irregular meal schedules and circadian disruption, and potential responsibility for life-and-death emergencies.
Subjects were advised to replace two meals a day with a nutritionally balanced meal replacement shakes (Slim·Fast®). Subjects were to choose a third “sensible” meal and two snacks consisting of fruits and vegetables of their choice, or
Slim·Fast snack bars. The two shakes, two snacks and the sensible dinner represented approximately 1200 calories per day.
Subjects were weighed weekly but did not receive additional nutritional or physical activity counseling.
Results:
Weight loss
On average, males lost approx-imately 8.47kg and females lost approximately 5.26kg. The average loss combining men and women was 7.34 kg. The mean BMI loss was 2.68.
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Results (continued):
The public sector employees (police, firefighters) lost nearly twice as much as the private sector employees (health care, flight attendants), in terms of body weight lost, a difference that fell just short of significance (F=3.809, d.f.=1, P<0.052).
Positive experience
The program was well accepted, with an 80% retention rate. Among all occupational groups, the participants expressed positive attitudes toward their experience with the program and would recommend it:
- To a friend (99%)
- As a diet plan (94%)
- For convenience (93%)
- For taste (91%)
- For energy level (87%)
- For hunger satisfaction (79%)
CONCLUSION:
While high-stress work environments can create challenges that make it difficult to adhere to weight loss plans, this study demonstrates that meal replacements provide the convenience, flexibility, ease of use and acceptability that make them effective as a weight loss strategy for people with a busy, hectic lifestyle.
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