This paper describes the aims, interventions, and design of the Work, Weight, and Wellness program, a group-randomized clinical trial of a multicomponent weight loss and obesity prevention and intervention program. The 3W program is being conducted on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, over a period of 2 years with 31 hotels and their 11,559 employees. This paper reports the baseline prevalence of overweight and obesity and the distribution of body mass index values across sex, race, and job categories. It also describes factors that have influenced intervention adoption and employee participation. The authors emphasize that effective population-based interventions are urgently needed to fight the global obesity epidemic. They also point out that some employers may hesitate to adopt or support such programs without confirmation of their effectiveness in their industry and region. This worksite obesity prevention and intervention trial will verify whether low-cost environmental intervention and low-intensity on-site groups are sufficient to produce sustained weight loss in hotel workers and provide the employers with an attractive return on their investment.
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