ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION@#Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for dyslipidemia. Office work is a job associated with low physical activity. Wellness programmes in the workplace might increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness.@*OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to determine the effect of a wellness programme on aerobic physical exercise adherence and blood lipid profile changes among government employees.@*METHODS@#This study used a randomized controlled trial design, with the intervention (wellness programme) conducted for six weeks. Thirty participants who were office workers in a government institution were allocated into two groups. The intervention group (n = 15) received health education, aerobic physical exercise (30 minutes on a treadmill, three times/week for six weeks), reminders, and a logbook. The control group (n = 15) received education only. The outcomes were adherence to the exercise programme and lipid profile levels.@*RESULT@#The intervention group showed more adherence to aerobic exercise than the control group (OR 42.2, 95% CI 5.1, 346.9). The mean (SD) total cholesterol level in the intervention group was decreased by 9.9 (21.1) mg/dl, while in the control group, it was increased by −16.0 (14.5) mg/dl at the end of the study (p = 0.010). The mean (SD) of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the intervention group was also decreased by 0.9 (17.2) mg/dl while in the control group, it was increased by -14.8 (11.6) mg/dl (p = 0.007). No significant mean differences were observed for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride.@*CONCLUSION@#A workplace wellness programmes can enhance employees’ adherence to physical exercise and decrease their total blood cholesterol and LDL level.