Introduction and aim: Workplace health
promotion is a common strategy used to enhance
fitness for work. Due to the increasing
prevalence of overweight and obesity new
strategies are needed to prevent this development.
We therefore evaluated the usefulness
and the efficacy of the “Active Body Control
(ABC) Programme” for weight reduction
as a measure of workplace health promotion.
Methods and participants: The ABC programme
for weight reduction was applied
for 3 months to 36 employees of the “Wasserund
Schifffahrtsamt Schweinfurt”. Core elements
of the programme are a single, 3-hour
instruction concerning the “Magdeburg dual
diet”, the continuous telemonitoring of physical
activity, the regular data transfer to the
carer, and weekly letters to the employees to
inform and motivate them.
Results: 32 out of 36 employees had a BMI
> 25 kg/m². Eleven of the latter participated
for 90 days and reduced their mean weight
by 8.8 kg. 21 employees participated for
75 days and had a mean weight loss of 5.2 kg.
Concomitantly, significant improvements in
blood glucose, LDL-cholesterol and diastolic
blood pressure were observed.
Conclusion: The ABC programme proved to
be a useful and effective measure in workplace
health promotion. Because it is a telemedical
procedure, time requirements are
relatively low for the company, the participants
and the carers.
