About the LightenUp Study

To answer the question of whether programs at the workplace can help reduce obesity and its associated affects on employee health and productivity, The National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute (NHLBI) through its National Worksite Obesity and Overweight Control Initiative, funded seven 5-year long randomized trials to study the impact of environmentally-based interventions. These studies took place in Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin and represent a variety of business sizes and industries. One of these trials examined the LightenUP program at The Dow Chemical Company — a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to weight management using a series of well-communicated environmental interventions supported by site-level or plant leaders and champions.

This website was created to make the tools and learnings from the LightenUP Study available to any interested company. Click here for a detailed overview of the study and results.

The main components of the website include:

• About the LightenUP Study
  Learn about the study team and the significance of the study.
  
  
• LightenUP Your Company
  This section includes tools so you can download some of the actual instruments used in the study for assessments at your own company.
  
  
• Lessons Learned
  Learn the ten tips to implementing wellness interventions and why developing a health strategy and culture of health is important.
  
  
• Publications
  This section provides more of the study results and articles and presentations completed throughout the 5-year study.