K. Addley et al., Creating healthy workplaces in Northern Ireland: evaluation of a lifestyleand physical activity assessment programme, OCCUP MED-O, 51(7), 2001, pp. 439-449
An observational study was carried out on 2595 Northern Ireland civil serva
nts who attended a workplace lifestyle and physical activity assessment pro
gramme involving self-reported lifestyle history, measurement of physiologi
cal parameters and a 6 month follow-up postal questionnaire survey. Almost
two-thirds of participants did not engage in regular moderate physical acti
vity, with females twice as likely not to than men. Approximately one in si
x participants were smokers and three-quarters were found to have body fat
estimations above the acceptable level, with females much more likely to be
obese than men. Aerobic capacity was below average in 17% of participants
and was associated with increasing age, smoking in the under 35s and poor p
hysical activity levels. Excessive alcohol intake was found in 8% of all pa
rticipants, and was more likely in men and smokers. In the follow-up survey
, 83% needed to make one or more changes to their lifestyle. Smoking was th
e most difficult to change, with only 14% remaining abstinent after 6 month
s. Almost two-thirds were maintaining improved dietary habits and exercise
activity, with around one-half moderating alcohol intake and achieving weig
ht reduction. Overall, the average level of non-attempted behaviour change
was one in five (19.6%), tried but failed accounted for almost one in three
(31.2%) and successful maintenance of positive lifestyle change occurred i
n one-half (49.2%). Brief lifestyle and physical activity assessment progra
mmes are effective interventions in getting employees to modify their lifes
tyles. The impact this has on wider organizational issues such as absenteei
sm and productivity needs further evaluation.