Open Access Research

Economic evaluation of a weight control program with e-mail and telephone counseling among overweight employees: a randomized controlled trial

Marieke F van Wier1,2,3,4, J C Dekkers1,3,4,5, Judith E Bosmans3,6, Martijn W Heymans2,3,6, Ingrid JM Hendriksen4,7, Nicolaas P Pronk8, Willem van Mechelen1,3,4* and Maurits W van Tulder2,3,6

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

3 EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University and VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

4 Body@Work, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO-VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

5 Municipal Health Service, The Hague, The Netherlands

6 Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

7 TNO Quality of Life, Leiden, The Netherlands

8 HealthPartners, JourneyWell and HealthPartners Research Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, USA

For all author emails, please log on.

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2012, 9:112 doi:10.1186/1479-5868-9-112

Published: 11 September 2012

Abstract

Background

Distance lifestyle counseling for weight control is a promising public health intervention in the work setting. Information about the cost-effectiveness of such interventions is lacking, but necessary to make informed implementation decisions. The purpose of this study was to perform an economic evaluation of a six-month program with lifestyle counseling aimed at weight reduction in an overweight working population with a two-year time horizon from a societal perspective.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial comparing a program with two modes of intervention delivery against self-help. 1386 Employees from seven companies participated (67% male, mean age 43 (SD 8.6) years, mean BMI 29.6 (SD 3.5) kg/m2). All groups received self-directed lifestyle brochures. The two intervention groups additionally received a workbook-based program with phone counseling (phone; n=462) or a web-based program with e-mail counseling (internet; n=464). Body weight was measured at baseline and 24 months after baseline. Quality of life (EuroQol-5D) was assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after baseline. Resource use was measured with six-monthly diaries and valued with Dutch standard costs. Missing data were multiply imputed. Uncertainty around differences in costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios was estimated by applying non-parametric bootstrapping techniques and graphically plotting the results in cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

Results

At two years the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €1009/kg weight loss in the phone group and €16/kg weight loss in the internet group. The cost-utility analysis resulted in €245,243/quality adjusted life year (QALY) and €1337/QALY, respectively. The results from a complete-case analysis were slightly more favorable. However, there was considerable uncertainty around all outcomes.

Conclusions

Neither intervention mode was proven to be cost-effective compared to self-help.

Trial registration

ISRCTN04265725

Keywords:
Body weight; Cost-effectiveness; Cost-utility; Distance counseling; Intervention; Lifestyle; RCT; Workplace health promotion