Steve Jones began his trucking career nearly twenty years ago and soon established a routine. To combat drowsiness during long drives, he would consume a two-liter bottle of Mountain Dew daily and keep bread in the passenger seat for quick energy. At truck stops, he often opted for fast food, typically indulging in hot dogs. This lifestyle led him to gain 70 pounds.
This situation is not unusual among the 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States, with over two-thirds classified as obese.
“When you enter this industry, no one discusses these issues,” Jones remarked. “Their main focus is moving freight from point A to point B.”
Truck drivers face limited food choices, inadequate sleep, and payment structures that encourage prolonged sitting, which results in them being twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to the general population. Their average lifespan is only 61 years.
Jones’ perspective started to change when he met his wife, Gina, who began accompanying him on the road about 14 years ago. Recently, they have intensified their health efforts by collaborating with a health coach via Offshift, a digital health coaching program designed specifically for truckers.
The couple began to focus more on their diet and physical activity. Gina would prepare meals like turkey meatloaf, chicken breast, broccoli, and green beans to bring along on their 3,000-mile round trip from Phoenix to Memphis, Tennessee. Since March 2024, they have collectively shed over 50 pounds.
Offshift is part of a greater array of programs aimed at helping users lead healthier lifestyles to prevent or manage chronic diseases. However, many such initiatives, including those recognized for diabetes prevention, have faced challenges with low adoption rates amid rising obesity and cardiometabolic disease rates across the United States.
