STUDY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND DIETARY INTERVENTIONS FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT BEFORE PREGNANCY OF BULGARIAN WOMEN

Abstract Aims The primary aim of the programme was a minimum of a 5% weight reduction of the initial weight, while the secondary outcomes were a reduction in participants’ body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), AUDIT-C score and an increase in the Mediterranean diet (MD) score and an improvement in physical activity levels. Methods This 'before and after' study was a 10-week weight management (WM) programme and it was developed and delivered in community pharmacies in Patras chosen for convenience, thus consisting the first service of its type in Greece. The sample size was calculated (n = 96) based on the mean BMI for a Greek male and female individual, and the standard deviation (SD) of weight at baseline of 14 kg. Results Nearly every participant enrolled in the 20 participating pharmacies, 97.4% (n = 114/117), achieved the programme’s aim, losing at least 5% of their initial weight. The mean percentage of total weight loss of the 117 participants at the 10th week was 8.97% (SD 2.65), and the t-test showed statistically significant results (P-value < 0.001; 95% CI [8.48, 9.45]). A significant reduction in the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was observed in both male (P-value = 0.004) and female (P-value < 0.001) participants. The participants’ BP and AUDIT-C score and physical activity levels significantly improved (P-value < 0.001), as well as their MD score. Conclusion This study provides the first evidence that Greek pharmacists have the potential to play an important role within primary healthcare and that after training they are able to provide public health services for both the public’s benefit and their clinical role enhancement.

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Identifying and measuring the behavioural, dietary, and physical activity components of weight management consultations delivered by general practice nurses in routine care

BMC Family Practice ◽

10.1186/s12875-021-01403-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Heather Tong ◽

Elizabeth Morris ◽

Susan A. Jebb ◽

Dimitrios A. Koutoukidis

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Weight Management ◽

Care Group ◽

Dietary Recommendations ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Audio Recordings ◽

Baseline Weight ◽

Physical Activity Recommendations ◽

Activity Recommendations

Abstract Background Many people with obesity receive weight loss consultations by general practice nurses (GPNs) in routine primary care. This exploratory study aimed to characterise the components of these consultations, including behaviour change techniques (BCTs), and dietary and physical activity recommendations. Methods We analysed audio recordings of weight management consultations conducted by 8 GPNs as part of the ‘usual care’ group in a randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN75092026). Consultations were coded against three taxonomies to classify BCTs, dietary recommendations, and physical activity recommendations. Associations between coded content and weight loss were assessed. Differences in the content of consultations where weight loss was < 5% or ≥ 5% from baseline weight at 6 months were explored. Results One hundred and fifty audio recordings were available from 53 out of 140 (38%) participants in the usual care group. Participants had on average 3 (SD = 1) recorded consultations over 3 months, lasting 14 (SD = 7) minutes each. Weight change at 3, 6, and 12 months was -3.6% (SD = 4.3), -5.5% (SD = 6.0) and -4.2% (SD = 6.5) for participants with audio recordings. GPNs used 3.9 (SD = 1.6) of 93 BCTs, 3.3 (SD = 2.7) of 30 dietary recommendations and 1.4 (SD = 1.2) of 10 physical activity recommendations per consultation. The most commonly employed BCTs were feedback on outcome of behaviour (80.0%), problem solving (38.0%), and social reward (34.3%). The most common dietary recommendations were about portion size (31.3%), nutrients (28.0%), and balanced diet (19.7%). The main physical activity recommendation was about walking (30.3%). There was no association between weight loss and the number of dietary recommendations, physical activity recommendations, or BCTs used per consultation, or per participant. Social reward was the only technique used significantly more in consultations of participants that lost ≥ 5% of their baseline weight at 6 months. Conclusions The study provides a new method that could be used to describe the content of weight management consultations. Specific dietary or physical activity recommendations and BCTs were used infrequently and inconsistently in this group of GPNs. Although replication is required in larger samples, this may point to a weakness in current practice.

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Eating for 1, Healthy and Active for 2; feasibility of delivering novel, compact training for midwives to build knowledge and confidence in giving nutrition, physical activity and weight management advice during pregnancy

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/1471-2393-14-218 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Andrea Basu ◽

Lynne Kennedy ◽

Karen Tocque ◽

Sharn Jones

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Weight Management ◽

Management Advice

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Are Men More Intuitive When It Comes to Eating and Physical Activity?

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988311428090 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 164-171 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Julie Gast ◽

Hala Madanat ◽

Amy Campbell Nielson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Intrinsic Motivation ◽

Weight Management ◽

Body Mass ◽

Demographic Variables ◽

Intuitive Eating ◽

Lower Body ◽

Behavioral Regulation

The purpose of this study was to determine where men fall on the motivation continuum based on intuitive eating status and if motivation for physical activity and intuitive eating are correlated. Results indicate that being an intuitive eater was associated with a lower body mass index. In terms of demographic variables, as age increased, intuitive eating status decreased and body mass index increased. Men scored high on the antidieting and self-care subscales of the Intuitive Eating Scale. Men who were classified as intuitive eaters scored higher on the external and introjected regulation of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire but no significant differences were reported by eating status and the identified and intrinsic motivation subscales. Intuitive eating holds promise as a weight management and weight loss tool for men. Intuitive eating may also influence initial motivation for physical activity for men.

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Awareness and knowledge about weight status and management: results from the 1 d sensitization campaign ‘Obesity Day’ in northern Italy

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001100005x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. 1813-1822 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Michela Barichella ◽

Alexis E Malavazos ◽

Giuseppe Fatati ◽

Emanuele Cereda

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Weight Management ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Weight Control ◽

Weight Status ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Obese Adults ◽

Cross Sectional

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the awareness and knowledge about weight status and its management.DesignA 1 d cross-sectional survey. Basic anthropometric assessments (weight, height, BMI and waist circumference) and a self-administered questionnaire were considered.SettingNineteen Clinical Nutrition or Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders Units or Dietetics Services in the Italian region of Lombardy.SubjectsAll adults attending the ‘Obesity Day’ initiative.ResultsA total of 914 participants (605 female and 309 male) were recruited. Although most of the participants (83·5 %) considered obesity to be a disease, 38·5 % were likely to misperceive their weight status. In particular, 38·8 % of normal-weight adults believed themselves to be overweight, whereas 71·1 % and 37·5 % of classes I and II/III obese adults classified themselves as being overweight and mildly obese, respectively. However, most of the overweight (90·2 %), mildly (96·8 %) and moderately/severely obese adults (99·1 %) recognized the need to lose weight. In all, 37·8 % of the sample underestimated the role of physical activity in weight management. Interestingly, only 17·2 % of dieters (previous or current) declared being advised by their doctor to lose weight. Multivariate models revealed that higher age, low education and higher BMI were important determinants of poor weight control and management. In addition, previous dieting appeared not to provide better knowledge, whereas the role of physical activity was recognized mainly by those practising it.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that in Italy knowledge about weight management should be improved not only in the general population but also among health-care professionals. To confirm this finding, there is now the rationale for a nationally representative survey. New educational programmes can be designed on the basis of the information collected.

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