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Purpose. Determine the effects of telephone-based coaching and a weight-loss supplement on the weight and body fat (BF) of overweight adults.Design. Randomized, placebo-controlled experiment with assessments at baseline, 2 months, and 4 months.Setting. Community.Subjects. Sixty overweight or obese men and 60 overweight or obese women, 25 to 60 years old.Intervention. Eleven 30-minute telephone coaching sessions were spaced throughout the study; the initial conversation lasted 60 to 90 minutes. Supplement or placebo capsules were taken daily over the 17 weeks.Measures. Weight was measured using an electronic scale, and BF was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.Results. Subjects taking the placebo lost 1.8 + 3.3 kg of weight and 0.7 + 2.2 kg of BF, whereas supplement users lost more: 3.1 + 3.7 kg of weight (F = 4.1, P = .045) and 1.7 + 2.6 kg of BF (F = 4.4, p = .039). Participants receiving no coaching lost 1.8 + 3.3 kg of weight and 0.7 + 2.2 kg of BF, whereas adults receiving coaching lost more: 3.2 + 3.6 kg of weight (F = 4.8, p = .032) and 1.6 + 2.5 kg of BF (F = 4.2, p = .044). Adults receiving both the supplement and coaching had the greatest losses of weight and BF, suggesting an additive effect (F = 3.2, p = .026; F = 2.9, p = .039, respectively).Conclusions. Both treatments, coaching and the supplement, viewed separately and in combination, worked to help subjects lose weight and BF. Adults can be educated and motivated via telephone to change behaviors leading to weight loss, and a weight-loss supplement can be included to increase success.

Purpose of the Review. To analyze the characteristics of the articles reviewed in the DataBase section of the American Journal of Health Promotionand to summarize this review in tabular format.Data Sources. All 350 entries in the American Journal of Health PromotionDataBase section beginning with issue 1:3 (Winter 1987) through issue 17:3 (January/February 2003) were included in this review.Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria. Every study summarized in the DataBase section was included. Five duplicate sets of entries existed in the DataBase section. One entry from each set was excluded based upon author consensus. Thus, this review includes 345 unique entries.Data Extraction Methods. All data reported in the DataBase section (e.g., sample sizes, measurement tools, study duration), as well as additional data derived directly from the studies (i.e., cross-sectional versus longitudinal study design, unit of analysis, and study topic) were entered in SPSS 11.5 for PC (SPSS, Inc, Chicago, Illinois).Data Synthesis. Data were synthesized to identify the frequency of entry by research question, research design and internal validity rating, unit of analysis, measurement tool(s), and health topics addressed.Major Conclusions. The majority of articles included in the DataBase received the highest research design rating, had robust sample sizes, and were of a meaningful duration. Additionally, a wide variety of topics were addressed. Overall, these strengths indicate that a solid foundation of research has been established on many of the most critical issues facing the health promotion field.

Objective. To comprehensively review all published, peer-reviewed research on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) and tobacco cessation and prevention by exploring the validity of its constructs, the evidence for use of interventions based on the TTM, the description of populations using TTM constructs, and the identification of areas for further research. The three research questions answered were: “How is the validity of the TTM as applied to tobacco supported by research?” “How does the TTM describe special populations regarding tobacco use?” “What is the nature of evidence supporting the use of stage-matched tobacco interventions?”Data Source. Computer Database search (PsychInfo, Medline, Current Contents, ERIC, CINAHL-Allied Health, and Pro-Quest Nursing) and manual journal search.Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria. All English, original, research articles on the TTM as it relates to tobacco use published in peer-reviewed journals prior to March 1, 2001, were included. Commentaries, editorials, and books were not included.Data Extraction and Synthesis. Articles were categorized as TTM construct validation, population descriptions using TTM constructs, or intervention evaluation using TTM constructs. Summary tables including study design, research rating, purpose, methods, findings, and implications were created. Articles were further divided into groups according to their purpose. Considering both the findings and research quality of each, the three research questions were addressed.Results. The 148 articles reviewed included 54 validation studies, 73 population studies, and 37 interventions (some articles fit two categories). Overall, the evidence in support of the TTM as applied to tobacco use was strong, with supportive studies being more numerous and of a better design than nonsupportive studies. Using established criteria, we rated the construct validity of the entire body of literature as good; however, notable concerns exist about the staging construct. A majority of stage-matched intervention studies provided positive results and were of a better quality than those not supportive of stage-matched interventions; thus, we rated the body of literature using stage-matched tobacco interventions as acceptable and the body of literature using non–stage-matched interventions as suggestive. Population studies indicated that TTM constructs are applicable to a wide variety of general and special populations both in and outside of the United States, although a few exceptions exist.Conclusions. Evidence for the validity of the TTM as it applies to tobacco use is strong and growing; however, it is not conclusive. Eight different staging mechanisms were identified, raising the question of which are most valid and reliable. Interventions tailored to a smoker's stage were successful more often than nontailored interventions in promoting forward stage movement. Stage distribution is well-documented for U.S. populations; however, more research is needed for non-U.S. populations, for special populations, and on other TTM constructs.

Purpose. To investigate the association between perceived stress and illness-related work absenteeism.Design. A standardized health profile questionnaire developed by Johnson & Johnson Advanced Behavioral Technologies, Inc., was used to collect demographic and personal health data between June 1988 and January 1993. Chi-square, odds ratio, and stepwise regression tests were used to analyze perceived stress and self-reported absenteeism data.Setting. Worksite health promotion programs in 250 U.S. companies.Subjects. Subjects consisted of 79,070 employees.Measures. Stress data, grouped as low, moderate, and high, were correlated with absenteeism data grouped by annual days missed (None, 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5+).Results. Significant relationships were found (p ⩽ .05) between high stress and absenteeism for both genders. Female workers reported higher stress levels and absenteeism than men. Those with high stress were 2.22 more likely to be absent 5+ days per year than those with low stress. Work, finances, and family were the highest stress sources. Greatest absenteeism predictors were health, legal, social, and financial stress.Conclusions. These data primarily represented self-selected white workers and may not apply to all employees. However, if high stress relates to absenteeism, these data may provide valuable information for program design in stress management.