Elsevier

Preventive Medicine

Volume 53, Issues 1–2, July–August 2011, Pages 53-56
Preventive Medicine

The association between worksite social support, diet, physical activity and body mass index

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.04.012Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

Social support may be associated with improved diet and physical activity—determinants of overweight and obesity. Wellness programs increasingly target worksites. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between worksite social support and dietary behaviors, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI).

Method

Baseline data were obtained on 2878 employees from 2005 to 2007 from 34 worksites through Promoting Activity and Changes in Eating, a group-randomized weight reduction intervention in Greater Seattle. Worksite social support, diet, physical activity, and BMI were assessed via self-reported questionnaire. Principal component analysis was applied to workgroup questions. To adjust for design effects, random effects models were employed.

Results

No associations were found with worksite social support and BMI, or with many obesogenic behaviors. However, individuals with higher worksite social support had 14.3% higher (95% CI: 5.6%–23.7%) mean physical activity score and 4% higher (95% CI: 1%–7%) mean fruit and vegetable intake compared to individuals with one-unit lower support.

Conclusion

Our findings do not support a conclusive relationship between higher worksite social support and obesogenic behaviors, with the exception of physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake. Future studies are needed to confirm these relationships and evaluate how worksite social support impacts trial outcomes.

Introduction

Social support is associated with nutritious diets and physical activity—determinants of overweight and obesity (Fuemmeler et al., 2006, Hemmingsson et al., 2008, Quintiliani et al., 2007). Studies have examined the impact that friend and familial support have on health outcomes (Untas et al., 2010); yet, few have also assessed the role of co-worker social support (Beresford et al., 2007, Elliot et al., 2004). The social context in which individuals make lifestyle choices has become increasingly important at the worksite. Still, few worksite wellness programs include a social support component (Quintiliani et al., 2007). Hence, little is known about the influence that worksite social support may have on lifestyle factors. In addition, earlier studies have examined the relationship between aspects of the worksite social context and health behaviors (Elliot et al., 2004, Sorensen et al., 2007); but, to our knowledge, none has studied the association between this precise measure capturing a general sense of co-worker support and similar outcomes. Thus, this study aims to inform the development of more successful obesity prevention interventions at the worksite by evaluating the relationship between general worksite social support and dietary and physical activity behaviors, and body mass index (BMI).

Section snippets

Methods

We analyzed baseline data obtained on 2878 employees from 2005 to 2007 from 34 worksites through Promoting Activity and Changes in Eating (PACE), a group randomized weight reduction intervention in the Greater Seattle area (Beresford et al., 2007). The PACE study is described elsewhere (Beresford et al., 2007).

Our independent variable was worksite social support—created using five adapted employee-workgroup questions focused on perceived general support (Elliot et al., 2004). The social support

Results

Descriptive results (not shown) indicate that the sample had a mean age of 42 years and 51% were female (Beresford et al., 2007). Forty-two percent of participants were high school graduates or General Educational Development recipients. Finally, 77% of participants self-identified as White. A majority of employees agreed or strongly agreed with each of the questions included in the worksite social support measure, indicating a high level of worksite social support. Nonetheless, 9–13% of

Discussion

In this study, we created a general, non-behavior specific support measure to assess whether an overall feeling of co-worker support was associated with healthier dietary behaviors, physical activity, and BMI. Though all relationships analyzed were in the direction hypothesized, we observed mostly null findings, with the exception of fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity score, which were significantly associated with higher worksite social support. This may suggest that, like

Conclusion

Further studies, ideally longitudinal ones that study changes in outcomes and behaviors, are needed to clarify the relationship and magnitude of association between worksite social support and health behaviors associated with obesity. Qualitative studies may be useful adjuncts to quantitative studies, in enhancing our understanding of the complex relationships between personal and worksite characteristics and how they influence social support and its impact on select behaviors. Such studies may

Conflict of interest statement

The authors confirm that there is no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to acknowledge the training and support of the University of Washington's Department of Health Services as well as the NCI's Biobehavioral Cancer Prevention and Control Fellowship Grant (R25 CA92408; PI: Donald Patrick, PhD), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grant (R01 HL079491; PI: Shirley Beresford, PhD) and the NIH/NCI Harvard Education Program in Cancer Prevention and Control (R25 CA057713; PI: Glorian Sorensen, PhD).

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