Lifestyle counseling in overweight truck and bus drivers - Effects on dietary patterns and physical activity

Abstract

We studied dietary patterns, physical activity (PA), and monthly goal setting in a weight reduction intervention in long-distance professional drivers. The study was conducted in Finland in 2009–2012. Male drivers with waist circumference > 100 cm were randomized to a lifestyle counseling (LIFE, N = 55) and a reference (REF, N = 58) group. During 12 months, LIFE participated in 6 face-to-face and 7 telephone counseling sessions on diet and PA. Dietary patterns were assessed using an index combining food diary and counselor interview, and PA with the number of daily steps using a pedometer. Monthly lifestyle goals, perceived facilitators and barriers, and adverse effects of PA in the LIFE participants were monitored using counselors' log books. Forty-seven (85%) LIFE participants completed the 12-month program. After 12 months, the mean dietary index score improved by 12% (p = 0.002, N = 24), and the number of daily steps increased by 1811 steps (median; p = 0.01, N = 22). The most frequent dietary goals dealt with meal frequency, plate model, and intake of vegetables, fruits, and berries. The most common PA mode was walking. Typical facilitators to reach monthly lifestyle goals were support from family and friends and ailment prevention; typical barriers were working schedules and ailments. Adverse effects, most commonly musculoskeletal pain, occurred among 83% of the LIFE participants. Positive changes in lifestyle habits were observed during counseling. Monthly lifestyle counseling combining face-to-face and phone contacts seemed appropriate to long-distance drivers. Barriers for reaching lifestyle changes, and adverse effects of PA were common and need to be addressed when planning counseling.Trial registration: Clinical Trials NCT00893646

Overweight and Obesity Among School Bus Drivers in Rural Arkansas

“…Although literature documents the effectiveness of worksite interventions for weight reduction among white-collar workers (6–8), few have targeted transportation workers. Most obesity interventions targeting transportation workers have focused on truck drivers (5,9,10) and city transit workers (4,11). Preliminary research is needed to determine the need and opportunities for intervention specific to school bus drivers.…”

Nutrition and physical activity interventions for the general population with and without cardiometabolic risk: a scoping review

“…Sample sizes ranged from 28 to 11 827 participants and study durations ranged from 4 weeks to 8 years. Nutrition and physical activity counseling or coaching was provided by a dietitian/nutritionist only in fifteen studies (15,32,46,47,52,83,89,101,128,139,147,151,160,162,182) , an exercise practitioner only in two studies (56,184) and both a dietitian/ nutritionist and exercise practitioner in twenty-one studies (51,69,78,90,91,102,103,108,111,120,121,130,142,149,161,169,171,172,180) . The greatest density of studies examined participants with cardiometabolic risk factors and interventions delivered by a dietitian/nutritionist and exercise practitioner or a dietitian/nutritionist only, and reporting anthropometric, glucose homoeostasis, blood pressure, lipid profile, dietary intake and physical activity outcomes.…”

Promoción de estilos de vida saludables: estrategias y escenarios

“…Estas perspectivas de trabajo apoyan la necesidad de incorporar los modelos de difusión de los cambios sociales sobre los modelos clásicos de cambio de hábitos basados en el comportamiento a nivel individual. Asimismo, se han generado estrategias con el enfoque del proceso de acción de la salud, centradas en las motivaciones que han mostrado resultados positivos sobre los EVS (59,60) o estrategias focalizadas a grupos específicos como el programa de promoción de actividad física en el entorno laboral con población de mujeres, el cual ha resultado útil en la mejora de las funciones cognitivas, los estados de alerta y el rendimiento laboral (61). Nuestro estudio permite reflexionar sobre la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias orientadas al manejo del estrés como elementos esenciales para la salud y bienestar de los trabajadores, puesto que ello conduce no solo al bienestar subjetivo de los trabajadores sino también aporta a la productividad de las organizaciones.…”