Does Successful Weight Loss in an Internet-Based Worksite Weight Loss Program Improve Employee Presenteeism and Absenteeism?

Samantha M. Harden, Wen You, Fabio A. Almeida, Jennie L Hill, Laura A. Linnan, Kacie C. Allen, Paul A Estabrooks

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Certain risk factors associated with overweight and obesity may lead to reduced productivity in the workforce (i.e., increased absenteeism and presenteeism). Participants in a large, Internet-based worksite weight loss intervention, who were present at follow-up (N = 1,030), completed a self-reported productivity measure (World Health Organization’s Health and Work Performance Questionnaire) at baseline and postintervention. Twenty-two percent of the participants lost a clinically meaningful amount of weight (≥5% weight loss). There were no statistically significant (p <.05) relationships between weight change from baseline to 12 months and change scores of absolute or relative absenteeism or for absolute or relative presenteeism. Within a modestly successful Internet-based, worksite weight loss intervention, weight loss did not improve self-reported absenteeism or presenteeism. Further studies are needed to explore the sensitivity of the World Health Organization’s Health and Work Performance Questionnaire and the long-term effects of weight loss on productivity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)769-774
Number of pages6
JournalHealth Education and Behavior
Volume42
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2015

Keywords

  • productivity
  • worksite weight loss intervention

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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