Changing risk behaviours for non-communicable disease in New Zealand working men - is workplace intervention effective?

Aims. To evaluate the effectiveness of a health promotion programme targeti ng dietary behaviours and physical activity among male hourly-paid workers and to explore demographic and attitudinal influences on dietary patterns a t baseline. Methods. A controlled field trial compared workers at one intervention and one control worksite. The intervention comprised nutrition displays in the cafeteria and monthly 30-minute workshops for six months. Key outcome measu res at six and twelve-months were self-reported dietary and lifestyle behav iours, nutrition knowledge, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure. Results. 132 men at the intervention site and 121 men at the control site p articipated in the study and a high retention rate (94% at 6-months and 89% at 12-months) was achieved. At baseline, 40% of the total sample (253) wer e obese, 30% had elevated blood pressure, 59% indicated an excessive fat in take and 92% did not meet the recommended vegetable and fruit intake. The i ntervention reduced fat intake, increased vegetable intake and physical act ivity, improved nutrition knowledge and reduced systolic blood pressure whe n compared to the control site. There was no difference in change in mean B MI or waist circumference. Reduction in BMI was associated with reduction i n fat intake. Discussion. Low intensity workplace intervention can significantly improve reported health behaviours and nutrition knowledge although the impact on m ore objective measures of risk was variable. A longer duration or more inte nsive intervention may be required to achieve further reduction in risk fac tors.