Effectiveness of a Structured Weight Management Programme at Workplace among Employees of a Petroleum Industry in Malaysia

Abstract

Recognising the epidemic of overweight and obesity among Malaysians, formulation of intervention programmes such as a weight management programme at workplace is essential. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a structured weight management programme at workplace among overweight and obese employees. In this quasi-experimental study, sixty-four of overweight and obese adults were recruited and divided into two groups (intervention group, n = 32 and control group, n = 32). Subjects in the intervention group received three months scheduled programme and the control group received a routine weight management consultation from dietitians. Significant group effect was found on waist circumference (WC) in men (p < 0.05) and Body Mass Index (BMI) in women (p < 0.05). Men from the intervention group had reduced their WC by 3.4% (-3.7 cm) as compared to controls of 0.7% (-0.8 cm). Women in the intervention group improved their BMI by 1.4% (-0.4 kg/m 2) as compared to controls at 0.3% (-0.1 kg/m 2). Total cholesterol and LDL-C reduced among women in both intervention and control group with significant time effect (p < 0.05). As a conclusion a structured weight management programme effectively improved WC in men and BMI in women, and appeared to be as effective as individual diet counselling by dietitians in improving lipid profiles in women. ABSTRAK Menyedari masalah berlebihan berat badan dan obesiti semakin menular dalam kalangan masyarakat Malaysia, pembentukan program intervensi seperti program pengurusan berat badan di tempat kerja adalah penting. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan keberkesanan program pengurusan berat badan yang berstruktur di tempat kerja dalam kalangan pekerja yang berlebihan berat badan dan obes. Dalam kajian percubaan kuasi ini, 64 orang dewasa yang mempunyai berat badan berlebihan dan obes direkrut dan dibahagikan kepada dua kumpulan (kumpulan intervensi, n = 32 dan kumpulan kawalan, n = 32). Subjek dari kumpulan intervensi menerima program berjadual selama tiga bulan dan kumpulan kawalan menerima konsultasi mengenai pengurusan berat badan secara rutin daripada dietitian. Kesan kumpulan menunjukkan perbezaan signifikan terhadap ukur lilit pinggang (ULP) bagi lelaki (p < 0.05) dan Indeks Jisim Tubuh (IJT) bagi wanita (p < 0.05). Ukur lilit pinggang bagi subjek lelaki dari kumpulan intervensi didapati menurun sebanyak 3.4% (3.7 cm) berbanding kumpulan kawalan 0.7% (-0.8 cm). Subjek wanita dalam kumpulan intervensi menunjukkan peningkatan terhadap IJT mereka sebanyak 1.4% (-0.4 kg/m 2) berbanding kumpulan kawalan 0.3% (-0.1 kg/m 2). Aras kolesterol jumlah dan kolesterol LDL bagi wanita dalam kedua-dua kumpulan intervensi dan kawalan didapati menurun mengikut masa secara siginifikan (p < 0.05). Secara kesimpulannya, program pengurusan berat badan berstruktur adalah efektif dalam memperbaiki ULP bagi lelaki dan IJT bagi wanita, dan turut berkesan setara dengan diet kaunseling secara individu oleh dietitian dalam memperbaiki profil lipid bagi wanita.