Background. A multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention program was developed to decrease risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adult participants from a rural community in Ohio. This workplace intervention was largely funded by Human Resources, and included diet, exercise, stress management techniques (yoga), and behavior modification counseling by a registered dietitian. While many studies have examined the impact of diet or exercise program on risk, few have examined programs that are multidisciplinary in nature.
Methods. This study examined the impact of the program on weight, % body fat, lean mass, fat mass, body mass index (BMI), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), waist circumference, total, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, triglycerides, glucose, and blood pressure during the first 100 days of treatment. Measurements were obtained using standardized methods, including air displacement plethysmography for body composition measures and a venipuncture for biochemical parameters (fasting).
Results. Seventy-two adults (53 females [73.6%]; 19 males [26.4%]) participated in the study. Paired t-tests were utilized to assess for changes from baseline to 100 days of participation. Weight (p < .001), % body fat (p < .001), fat mass (p < .001), BMI (p < .001), VO2 max (p < .001), waist circumference (p < .001), total (p < .001), HDL (p = .026), and LDL (p < .001) cholesterol levels, triglycerides (p = .004), glucose (p = .013), and blood pressure (systolic, p = .001; diastolic, p < .001) significantly decreased. Lean body mass did not significantly change (p > .05).
Conclusion. This multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention program was effective in reducing the aforementioned cardiovascular disease risk factors among adult participants. Future studies should examine whether the changes seen after 100 days are sustained.