Prospective Evaluation of the Effect of the Nurses Living Fit™ Intervention Versus No Intervention on Body Mass Index of Nurses

Objective:  Approximately 65% of Americans are estimated to be overweight. It is important for health care organizations to offer evidence-based programs that educate nurses on balancing exercise and nutrition to achieve and maintain normal weight.  The hospital-based Nurses Living Fit™ (NLF) intervention, was developed and researched by nurses to evaluate its effect on Body Mass Index (BMI) in nurse subject participants. The hypothesis tested was that the NLF intervention participants would experience a significantly greater mean BMI reduction than the contrast group. 

Design: Prospective, quasi-experimental, multi-center study evaluating the change in BMI between Baseline and Week 12 in the NLF and contrast nurse group convenience samples. 

Setting: Suburban and rural community hospitals in Virginia, Maryland and South Carolina.

Patients/Participants: Target enrollment for this study was 126 nurses, able to be physically active, and provide signed consent.

Methods: Participants in the NLF intervention group underwent a 12 Week program including weekly exercise sessions, monthly yoga sessions, and monthly nutrition lectures.  Self-reported daily diaries were completed during the intervention period (Weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12) and at Week 24 for daily activities (pedometer steps using pedometers provided to NLF participants, exercise time, and yoga time); number of food group servings and fast food restaurant meals; ounces of water consumed per day (water bottles provided to NLF participants); hours of sleep per night; and participant evaluations.  Healthy lifestyle principles were reviewed for the NLF nurses.  Both groups underwent BMI and waist measures at Baseline, and Weeks 12 and 24.    

Results:  A total of 217 nurses were enrolled in this study (NLF=108; Contrast=109) at 7 hospitals.  The hypothesis of this study was met in that NLF group participants had a greater mean reduction in BMI than contrast group participants. There was also a greater mean reduction in waist circumference in the NLF group than in the contrast group.   Participant evaluations demonstrated the majority would recommend the NLF program to other nurses and health care employees. 

Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice:

The NLF program demonstrated a decrease in BMI for nurse participants. Hospitals can provide an evidence-based program like NLF (adopted from Kids Living Fit™, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Innovation of Excellence recipient) to facilitate education of their nurses on healthy lifestyle principles incorporating the balance between exercise and nutrition.  Ideally, nurses can utilize these principles to achieve and / or maintain normal weight, and to better educate their patients, their families, and community, on healthy lifestyle principles targeting normal weight. 

Keywords:   obesity, nutrition, physical activity, nurses, adults, hospital,