The problems associated with overweight and obesity are well known. Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and an inability to fully engage in life are just a few. Many employers have taken steps to help employees with weight management by subsidizing exercise programs and bringing in organizations like Weight Watchers® at Work.

Now a program developed at the University of Vermont claims excellent results and a more intuitive way of reaching employees who want to shed the pounds. "Vtrim is an online program that replicates what you would expect of a research-based weight loss program," explains Betsy Casey Gold, a registered dietician and director of Vtrim's corporate programming. The program was created by Dr. Jean Harvey-Berino who developed it over 17 years of clinical study at the university.

Support and Skills

The focus of Vtrim is less on food and more on how people relate to food and exercise, Casey Gold explains. The program includes nutrition education, support, and skills to help people make lasting changes. Employees at participating workplaces join in online corporate classes that include individuals from various businesses. Casey Gold explains that some employers pay for or subsidize participation, while others may not. The typical corporate class involves 12 weekly sessions led by expert trainers who have completed a 45-hour training course. This differentiates the program from others that offer peer leadership or that offer no professional feedback.

"The class is a text-based chat room, which we've found is the best way to replicate sitting around a table," says Casey Gold. The company's extensive research suggests this format helps promote a level of social support among participants that's similar to what they would get in an in-person program. The curriculum covers everything from smart supermarket shopping and label reading to assertiveness, and creating an exercise lifestyle.

Apologizing for what sounds like a buzzword, Casey Gold notes that what differentiates Vtrim from other weight-loss programs is the systematic approach to weight loss. "We deal with real food in the real world, which means we don't tell you what to eat, we teach people how to manage." The results of the approach are impressive, with more than 80 percent of participants losing at least 5 percent of their body weight.

Double Shot of Success

At Green Mountain Coffee® Roasters in Waterbury, Vermont, Vtrim has been well received. HR lead for health and wellness Betsy Stanford explains that the company has about 1,400 on the payroll. They produce popular bagged coffee for grocery stores, as well as bulk packages for restaurants, and single-serve products. Last year, Green Mountain moved beyond its Vermont roots and established a location in Knoxville, Tennessee, and bought a coffee company in Seattle.

"We're self-insured, so we try to keep the costs down," Stanford explains. A focus of the company's health and wellness initiatives is keeping people out of the hospital. Green Mountain provides $500 per employee to spend for wellness activities. That could mean membership at a gym, purchasing a ski pass, or renting exercise equipment. Vtrim appealed to Green Mountain for a number of reasons, including its grass roots personality. "A lot of the programs out there tell you to eat this and not eat something else," says Stanford. But Vtrim focuses on goals for fat, calories, and exercise, encouraging people to get up and start moving with an eye to long-term longevity.

The coffee company also liked the virtual nature of Vtrim. "We're grown so fast that people don't have the time to leave their desk," she adds. The program was first offered last January, and about eight Green Mountain employees signed on. The next time it was offered, the number was almost double, and it's grown since. "We had one employee who had tried many different things, none of which worked." Vtrim gave him what he needed and helped him shed 60 pounds. "It can have a huge impact," adds Casey Gold.

To learn more, visit http://www.uvm.edu/vtrim.