Retrospective Examination of Class Attendance on Corporately Sponsored Weight Loss Programming: The Naturally Slim Experience

Abstract

Objective:To examine the effect of class participation in participants enrolled in a corporate sponsored commercial weight loss program.Methods:We examined 111,262 participants for percent weight loss (primary outcome) using general linear models and weight loss relative to class participation (secondary outcome).Results:We observed a significant trend (P<0.001) for achieving significant weight loss for the entire cohort who lost 3.65% (99% CI, 3.62, 3.69) body weight. Individuals taking ≥4 classes (n=87,346) lost 4.97% (99% CI, 4.53, 4.61). Those taking ≥9 classes (n=74,525) achieved 4.95% (99% CI, 4.93, 5.01) weight loss. Similar patterns for men and women were observed within each analysis.Conclusion:Overall, participants lost a clinically beneficial (≥3%) amount of weight following class participation and greater class attendance produced a greater weight loss percentage approaching clinical significance (≥5%).