Abdominal obesity reduction in indigenous men.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of a men's 'waist loss' program over one year in Indigenous men.


METHODS
Pre-and post-test measurements of 47 Indigenous men on four island groups in the Torres Strait region of Northern Australia involved in a version of the 'GutBuster' program, modified by and for Indigenous men.


RESULTS
Weight, waist and hip size of 47 men, and body fat estimated from electrical impedence measures of 27 men, were compared at baseline, after approx 2 months, approx 6 months and approx one year. Average weight loss was 3.3 kg (3.5%), and waist loss 4.0 cm (3.5%). The average percentage decrease in fat mass (FM) was 10.8%. An environmental audit technique highlighted modifications needed to the environment to assist behaviour change.


CONCLUSIONS
Education-behaviour change interventions of this kind may offer opportunities for health improvements in Indigenous men.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Deakin University Melbourne, and Centre for Health Promotion and Research, Sydney, Australia. eggergj@ozemail.com.au
G
G
Egger
G
G
Fisher
S
S
Piers
K
K
Bedford
G
G
Morseau
S
S
Sabasio
B
B
Taipim
G
G
Bani
M
M
Assan
P
P
Mills
D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001824:Body Constitution; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015876:Northern Territory; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015431:Weight Loss