Steps to Health: Targeting Obesity in the Health Care Workplace

"Steps to Health (STH): The STH curriculum is a 12-month educational program targeting obese employees for healthy lifestyle changes for weight loss. The program includes:~* Face-to-face visit with counselor during Month 1 to set specific health goals.~* Telephone counseling at 6 and 12 months, coupled with biometric feedback sessions.~* Monthly generic health education materials sent via e-mail.~* Incentives (up to 1,000 STH dollars \[$100\]) to take part in the program assessments."

"The STH+ intervention is an intensive 12-month behavioral intervention targeting obese employees. It is stage-based and works with the participant at his/her level of readiness to change using counseling based on motivational interviewing. STH+ includes:~* Face-to-face visit with counselor at Month 1~* Meeting with exercise physiologist in Month 2~* Monthly counseling sessions (in-person in Months 3, 6, 9 and 12, others via telephone)~* Meeting with exercise physiologist during Month 5~* Quarterly biometric feedback (Months 3, 6, 9, and 12)~* Incentives (up to 1,000 STH dollars \[$100\]) to take part in the program assessments."