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A nutrition and exercise intervention program for controlling weight in Samoan communities in New Zealand

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 920–927 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To promote weight loss in Samoan church communities through an exercise program and nutrition education.

METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was used to assess weight change, over 1 y, in cohorts of people aged 20–77 y from three non-randomised Samoan church communities (two intervention, n=365 and one control, n=106) in Auckland, New Zealand. The intervention churches received aerobics sessions and nutrition education about dietary fat.

RESULTS: Baseline body mass index for the intervention and control churches was (mean±s.e.) 34.8±0.4 and 34.3±0.9 kg/m2, respectively. The intervention churches lost an average of 0.4±0.3 kg compared to a 1.3±0.6 kg weight gain in the control church (P=0.039, adjusted for confounders). The number of people who were vigorously active increased by 10% in the intervention churches compared to a 5% decline in the control church (P=0.007). Nutrition education had little apparent impact on knowledge or behaviour.

CONCLUSION: Samoan communities in New Zealand are very obese and have high rates of annual weight gain. A community-based intervention program arrested this weight gain in the short term.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the ministers and the churches, in particular Gafatasi Lemuelu, Lealofi Setefano and the health committees. We also acknowledge the help and assistance of Pacific Islands Heartbeat and the South Auckland Diabetes Project. Supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. Colin Bell was supported by the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Auckland Human Subjects Ethics Committee and informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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  1. Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    AC Bell, BA Swinburn, H Amosa & RK Scragg

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  1. AC Bell
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Correspondence to BA Swinburn.

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Bell, A., Swinburn, B., Amosa, H. et al. A nutrition and exercise intervention program for controlling weight in Samoan communities in New Zealand. Int J Obes 25, 920–927 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801619

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