Identifying opportunities and barriers for introducing a workplace nutrition and health program for employees: Findings from formative research

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The work style of employees engaged in the Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors in India is dominantly sedentary exposing them to detrimental obesogenic environments with unhealthy diets, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Workplace health interventions have been reported to have the potential of reducing NCDs and related risk factors among the employees and thus reduce cost of absenteeism and improve productivity. OBJECTIVE: This formative research study aims to explore the opportunities and barriers of the development and implementation of a Workplace Health Programme (WHP). METHODS: In this study, a mixed method including qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with employees and senior managers in employers of IT/BPO companies of different sizes in Hyderabad, India. The food and physical activity environment in the workplaces were explored using a checklist and ground truthing approach. A knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) questionnaire was developed to assess health, nutrition and physical activity of the employees. RESULTS: Through this formative research, the required areas for nutrition, physical activity and health education were identified. The scope of utilising existing facilities for physical activity and modifying the food environment was explored. We noted optimistic bias among the junior employees who did not consider themselves at risk of developing NCDs. CONCLUSIONS: The identified opportunities and barriers will help in developing strategic WHPs suitable to individual workplaces. The qualitative methods, ground truthing approach, checklist and KAP tools used here can assess the company environment and employee health and nutrition status.