TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of COVID-19 on a worksite weight loss program for employees with overweight and obesity
AU - Lee, Che Young
AU - Robertson, Michael C.
AU - Servino, Kendahl
AU - Le, Thuan
AU - Raber, Margaret
AU - Oestman, Katherine
AU - Basen-Engquist, Karen M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by the Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship of MD Anderson Cancer Center. We thank Ruth Rechis, PhD, Alize Neff, and Amber Macneish who have worked on the VL project. We also thank Laura L. Russell, Research Medical Library at MD Anderson Cancer Center, for editing this manuscript. This study was supported by the NIH/NCI under award number P30CA016672. Magaret Raber is supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS), and funded in part with federal funds from the USDA/ARS under‐Cooperative Agreement No. 5830925001.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Obesity Science & Practice published by World Obesity and The Obesity Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to be negatively associated with physical activity engagement, adherence to healthy diet, and weight management among people with obesity. The current study examined COVID-19-related changes in weight, physical activity (PA), and diet among employees with obesity or overweight who participated in Vibrant Lives (VL), a worksite weight loss program. Methods: School district employees participated in the 6-month VL weight loss program and were categorized into non-COVID-era participants and COVID-era participants. Participants completed questionnaires about PA and dietary intake at baseline and follow-up. COVID-era participants reported the effects of pandemic on their behaviors. Changes in weight, PA, and diet were compared between groups using multilevel linear mixed models and logistic regression models. Results: A total of 266 participants (non-COVID, n = 173; COVID, n = 93) were included. Significant weight loss (non-COVID, −2.3 kg vs. COVID, −1.3 kg) and increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA minutes (non-COVID, 48.7 min vs. COVID, 61.5 min) were observed associated with the program, but no significant differences in changes between the groups were found. Compared to non-COVID participants, COVID participants decreased fast food consumption (p = 0.008) and increased sugar-sweetened beverage intake (p = 0.016). Higher frequency of snacking and overeating were reported as barriers to a healthy diet. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was negatively associated with healthful dietary behaviors. The information obtained from participants regarding the reasons for their pandemic-related changes in diet may help identify strategies to encourage healthier behaviors and weight management among people who have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
AB - Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to be negatively associated with physical activity engagement, adherence to healthy diet, and weight management among people with obesity. The current study examined COVID-19-related changes in weight, physical activity (PA), and diet among employees with obesity or overweight who participated in Vibrant Lives (VL), a worksite weight loss program. Methods: School district employees participated in the 6-month VL weight loss program and were categorized into non-COVID-era participants and COVID-era participants. Participants completed questionnaires about PA and dietary intake at baseline and follow-up. COVID-era participants reported the effects of pandemic on their behaviors. Changes in weight, PA, and diet were compared between groups using multilevel linear mixed models and logistic regression models. Results: A total of 266 participants (non-COVID, n = 173; COVID, n = 93) were included. Significant weight loss (non-COVID, −2.3 kg vs. COVID, −1.3 kg) and increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA minutes (non-COVID, 48.7 min vs. COVID, 61.5 min) were observed associated with the program, but no significant differences in changes between the groups were found. Compared to non-COVID participants, COVID participants decreased fast food consumption (p = 0.008) and increased sugar-sweetened beverage intake (p = 0.016). Higher frequency of snacking and overeating were reported as barriers to a healthy diet. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was negatively associated with healthful dietary behaviors. The information obtained from participants regarding the reasons for their pandemic-related changes in diet may help identify strategies to encourage healthier behaviors and weight management among people who have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
KW - COVID-19 pandemic
KW - digital weight loss program
KW - health behaviors
KW - weight management
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U2 - 10.1002/osp4.653
DO - 10.1002/osp4.653
M3 - Article
C2 - 36718199
AN - SCOPUS:85149459987
SN - 2055-2238
JO - Obesity Science and Practice
JF - Obesity Science and Practice
ER -