New research compares long-term weight management versus short-term weight loss, and finds the former can provide more significant benefits for both individual employees and the employer’s bottom line.
According to StayWell Health Management, a key role for prevention specialists and employers alike is to manage expectations when it comes to affecting weight maintenance and weight loss in large populations. Instead of focusing on extraordinary weight loss, a more credible goal for the vast majority of people is to seek small sustainable changes with a goal of healthy eating and exercise for life.
“People often equate successfully managing your weight with losing a significant amount of weight, but past research has shown that even a modest weight loss of 2 pounds can have clinical benefits,” says Paul Terry, president and CEO of StayWell Health Management. “And what’s more, even this modest level of success achieved across a large population can impact broader public health outcomes and health care costs.”
Health coaching can play an instrumental role in long-term weight management, according to StayWell researchers, who found that people who completed a telephone-based health coaching program lost an average of 3 pounds (versus about 1 pound for those who did not complete the program) based on follow-up assessment an average of four months after the program ended.
Long-term, those who successfully lost weight lost an average of nearly 15 pounds. And those who completed the health coaching program were more likely to improve their eating habits and their physical activity levels.
“Real, lasting behavior change doesn’t happen overnight,” says Jessica Grossmeier, director of research at StayWell and study co-author. “But with the right tools and support such as a health coach and a supportive work environment individuals and companies can realize dramatic results. We see companies that are making great strides to mitigate the impact of overweight and obesity in their work force, and their reward for this effort is a healthier workforce and reduced health care spending.”
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