MOBILE WORK-SITE HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS CAN REDUCE SELECTED EMPLOYEE HEALTH RISKS

This study examined the effect of participation in a mobile work site health promotion program (MWHPP) on selected health risks. Measures of blood pressure, cholesterol total and total/high-density lipoprotein ratio, percent body fat, and submaximal fitness were taken at baseline, 6-, 12-, and 18-month intervals from 113 employed adults. Significant reductions (P less-than-or-equal-to .01) were observed in all variables measured. Further analysis of the number of employees who went from high risk to low risk demonstrated a significantly reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia, cholesterol total/high-density lipoprotein ration, and obesity (average significant chi2 = 9.3, P less-than-or-equal-to .05). It was concluded that participation in MWHPPs can significantly reduce several major cardiovascular risk factors. MWHPPs are relatively inexpensive compared with in-house health promotion programs and are one of the most cost-effective methods of reducing employee health risk.