Diabetes Prevention Unit, Karolinska Hospital

Abstract

Stockholm county Diabetes Prevention Program (SDPP) aims to study causal factors behind type 2 diabetes and to recommend steps in the direction to prevent the disease. This study in Sigtuna is one of several projects within the SDPP. Method. In 1995, 80 Sigtuna companies, between 15-200 employees, were asked if they would like to participate in a health promotion project, 22 companies were interested. An interview took place with the staff manager. The 22 companies had totaly 902 employees and they all got a questionnaire concerning their food, exercise and tobacco habits. The participating companies were divided into two intervention groups. In one group the companies subsidised exercise and in the other group the companies both subsidised exercise and provided health food information. The companies got support from the local SDPP project leader, health planner. A follow-up study will take part after one year and three years. Results. Of the 677 employees there were 60% men and 40% women. The results show that 77% were exercising, 64% would like to increase there physical activities, 51% thought that they have healthy eating habits, 19% did not know if they eat healthy or not, 34% used tobacco. The knowledge on the relationship between lack of exercise and CVD was high (97%), 30% knew of the relationship between lack of exercise and diabetes. There was a high knowledge (98%) on the relationship between smoking and CVD, 19% did know of the relationship between smoking and diabetes. Lack of time was the most frequent reason against regular exercise activities. Conclusions. The summary of the initial questionnaire shows that a majority of the employees were physically active. The knowledge on the relationship between food, exercise and tobacco habits and CVD was high. More than half of the employees wanted to change their habits. This study puts important target groups into focus. A close collaboration between the companies and different organisations within the municipality is of great importance to reach these target groups.

Keywords

Food habits; Exercise; Smoking; Work sites, Type 2 diabetes

Contact

Nordgaard Lena

Institution

Diabetes Prevention Unit, Karolinska Hospital

Postaddress

Karolinska Hospital

City

SE- S-171 76 Stockholm

Country

Sweden

E-mail

claesg@enk.ks.se

Phone

+46 8 517 754 70

Fax

+ 46 8 517 762 80