Original article

Scand J Work Environ Health 2015;41(1):54-64    pdf full text

https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3463 | Published online: 13 Oct 2014, Issue date: 01 Jan 2015

Lifestyle counseling to reduce body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors among truck and bus drivers – a randomized controlled trial

by Puhkala J, Kukkonen-Harjula K, Mansikkamäki K, Aittasalo M, Hublin C, Kärmeniemi P, Olkkonen S, Partinen M, Sallinen M, Tokola K, Fogelholm M

Objectives We conducted a randomized trial among overweight long-distance drivers to study the effects of structured lifestyle counseling on body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Methods Men with waist circumference >100 cm were randomized into a lifestyle counseling (LIFE, N=55) and a reference (REF, N=58) group. The LIFE group participated in monthly counseling on nutrition, physical activity, and sleep for 12 months aiming at 10% weight loss. After 12 months, the REF group participated in 3-month counseling. Assessments took place at 0, 12, and 24 months. Between-group differences in changes were analyzed by generalized linear modeling. Metabolic risk (Z score) was calculated from components of metabolic syndrome.

Results The mean body weight change after 12 months was -3.4 kg in LIFE (N=47) and 0.7 kg in REF (N=48) [net difference -4.0 kg, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -1.9– -6.2]. Six men in LIFE reduced body weight by ≥10%. Changes in waist circumference were -4.7 cm in LIFE and -0.1 cm in REF (net -4.7 cm, 95% CI -6.6– -2.7). Metabolic risk decreased more in the LIFE than REF group (net -1.2 points, 95% CI -0.6– -2.0). After 24 months follow-up, there were no between-group differences in changes in body weight (net -0.5 kg, 95% CI -3.8–2.9) or metabolic risk score (net 0.1 points; 95% CI -0.8–1.0) compared to baseline.

Conclusions Weight reduction and decreases in cardiometabolic risk factors were clinically meaningful after 12 months of counseling.

This article refers to the following texts of the Journal: 2013;39(3):233-240  2011;37(4):263-275  2010;36(2):150-162  2010;36(2):96-108  2010;36(3):202-215  1993;19(5):326-333
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