Company Health and Wellness : Weight Control

Program offered is consistent with scientific and medical care recommendations for weight loss, reflects a multi-disciplinary approach which offers four components: behavioral, exercise, diet, and maintenance, and is in accordance with the document Guidance For Treatment Of Adult Obesity. It includes:

• Screening to verify that the colleague has no medical or psychological conditions which would make weight loss inappropriate, and to identify the colleague’s level of health risk, classifying participants not only on excess body weight, but also on the basis of associated medical conditions and overall heath risk.
• Referral for participants who are morbidly obese who would require healthcare guidance for weight loss.
• Informed consent, explanation of potential physical and psychological risk from weight loss and regain, likely long-term success of program, full cost of the program, credentials of the employee.
• Identification of contributing factors to attendant’s weight status, serving as the basis for an individualized weight loss plan which includes the weight goal and plans for nutrition, exercise, and behavioral components.
• Weight objective of participant is reasonable based on personal and family weight history not solely on height and weight charts; initial weight loss objective does not exceed loss of 10% of body weight, 1-2 pounds per week.
• Explanation of unsafe weight loss methods.
• Daily calorie level is adjusted to meet each attendant’s recommended rate of weight loss.
• Daily caloric intake is not less than 1,000 calories; if less, physician monitoring is needed.
• Food plan designed so participants can choose foods which meet 100% of all the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) except for calories. Nutritional supplementation can be used to achieve RDAs, however must not greatly exceed RDAs.
• Nutrition education encouraging permanent healthful eating habits based on The Food Guide Pyramid.
• Participant involved in meal planning and diet selection.

The protein, fat, carbohydrate, and fluid content of the food plan meet safety recommendations:

Protein   Between 0.8 and 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of objective body weight, but no more than 100 grams of protein a day.
Fat   10 – 30 percent calories as fat.
Carbohydrate   At least 100 grams per day.
Fluid   At least one liter of water daily.

• Exercise component ought to be a significant portion of the program and be both didactic and experiential.
• Participant is appropriately screened for exercise using a assessment questionnaire such as the Par-Q Readiness Assessment (see forms). Instruction on recognizing untoward responses to exercise.
• Participants work towards 30-60 minutes of exercise 5-7 days per week.
• No appetite suppressant prescriptions.
• Maintenance plan available for continued backing.
• Weight control programs must be conducted by a registered dietitian or by degreed health professionals with training in nutrition with consultation by a registered dietitian.
• Trained lay leaders may support  if supervised by nutrition professional.

Note: There’s an interactive version of Guidance for the Treatment of Adult Obesity at e-Guidance for the Treatment of Adult Obesity.