Evaluation of a rural community pharmacy-based Waist Management Project: bringing the program to the people

Time constraints and lack of awareness of risk factors for future chronic disease development prevent many young adults from accessing lifestyle programs offered by local health services. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a rural pharmacy-based multidisciplinary healthy lifestyle pilot program on reducing risk factors for chronic disease development among young adults. Individuals under the age of 50 with chronic disease risk factors were referred to the program. All subjects were provided with free after-hours nutritional counselling from a dietitian at the local community pharmacy, a comprehensive medication review conducted by the pharmacist, gym membership and access to cooking classes and supermarket tours. Selected participants also received bulk-billed GP appointments and assistance with establishing a home vegetable garden. Body weight, waist circumference, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity were assessed at baseline and after program conclusion. Forty participants regularly attended the program between March 2009 and March 2010. At program conclusion, mean body weight was reduced by 3.8 ± 6.7 kg (P < 0.001) and waist circumference reduced by 3.9 ± 6.5 cm (P < 0.001). Fruit consumption increased by 1.2 ± 0.2 serves/day (P < 0.001) and vegetable intake increased by 1.6 ± 1.0 serves/day (P < 0.001). Participants also spent an average of 88.0 ± 47.7 more min/week (P < 0.001) engaged in physical activity on completion of the program. The community pharmacy provided an accessible location for the delivery of a successful chronic disease risk reduction program targeting young adults in a rural area.

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Alcohol consumption, physical activity, and chronic disease risk factors: a population-based cross-sectional survey

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/1471-2458-6-118 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Kenneth J Mukamal ◽

Eric L Ding ◽

Luc Djoussé

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Chronic Disease Risk

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Association of Activity and Chronic Disease Risk Factors: Utility and Limitations of Objectively Measured Physical Activity Data

Journal of the American Dietetic Association ◽

10.1016/j.jada.2008.03.018 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 108 (6) ◽

pp. 945-947

Author(s):

Arlene Hankinson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Activity Data ◽

Physical Activity Data ◽

Chronic Disease Risk ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

Objectively Measured Physical Activity

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Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, and Chronic Disease Risk Factors in Australian Adolescents

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine ◽

10.1001/archpedi.162.6.566 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 162 (6) ◽

pp. 566 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Elizabeth Denney-Wilson ◽

Louise L. Hardy ◽

Timothy Dobbins ◽

Anthony D. Okely ◽

Louise A. Baur

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Body Mass ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Chronic Disease Risk

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Changes in Health Behaviours in Adults At-Risk of Chronic Disease: Primary Outcomes From The My Health for Life Program

10.21203/rs.3.rs-895190/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Charrlotte Seib ◽

Stephanie Moriarty ◽

Nicole McDonald ◽

Debra Anderson ◽

Joy Parkinson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

At Risk ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Health Behaviours ◽

Fruit And Vegetable

Abstract Background Chronic disease is the leading cause of premature death globally, and many of these deaths are preventable by modifying some key behavioural and metabolic risk factors. This secondary data analysis examines changes in health behaviours among men and women at risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease (CVD) who participated in a 6-month lifestyle intervention called the My health for life program. Methods My health for life is a government-funded multi-component program designed to reduce chronic disease risk factors amongst at-risk adults. The intervention comprises six sessions over a 6-month period, delivered by a trained facilitator or telephone health coach. The analysis presented in this paper stems from 9,372 participants who participated in the program between July 2017 and December 2019. Primary outcomes included fruit and vegetable intake, consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and take-away, alcohol and tobacco smoking, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC). Variables were summed to form a single Healthy Lifestyle Index (HLI) ranging from 0 to 18, with higher scores denoting healthier behaviours. Longitudinal associations between lifestyle indices, assessed using Gaussian Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models with an identity link and robust standard errors. Results Improvements in HLI scores were noted between baseline (Md = 10.0; IQR = 8.3, 11.7] and 26-weeks (Md = 11.7; IQR = 10.0, 13.2] which corresponded with increases in fruit and vegetable consumption and decreases in takeaway frequency, and weight indices (p < .01 for all) but not risky alcohol intake. Modelling showed higher average HLI among those aged 45 or older (β = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.81, 1.13, p < .01) with vocational educational qualifications (certificate/diploma: β = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.76, p < .01; bachelor/post-graduate degree β = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.76, 1.34, p < .01) while being male, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, or not currently working conferred lower average HLI scores (p < .01 for all). Conclusions While participants showed improvements in many healthy lifestyle indices including BMI, waist circumference, physical activity, and dietary indicators, changes in alcohol consumption were less amenable to the program. There is a need for additional research to understand the multi-level barriers and facilitators of behaviour change in this context to tailor the intervention for more-difficult-to-treat groups.

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