title: Behaviour change among overweight and socially disadvantaged adults: a longitudinal study of the NHS Health Trainer Service.
abstract: Social disadvantage is associated with being overweight, a poor diet and physical inactivity. The NHS Health Trainer Service (HTS) is a national initiative designed to promote behaviour change among socially disadvantaged people in England and Wales. This study reports pre-post changes in body mass index (BMI), associated behaviours and cognitions among service users who set dietary or physical activity goals during a 12-month period (2008-2009; N = 4418). Sixty-nine percent of clients were from the two most deprived population quintiles and 94.7% were overweight or obese. Mean BMI decreased from 34.03 to 32.26, with overweight/obesity prevalence decreasing by 3.7%. There were increases in fruit and vegetable consumption, reductions in fried snack consumption, increases in frequency of moderate or intensive activity and gains in self-efficacy and perceived health and wellbeing. Clients with higher BMI, poorer diet or less activity at baseline achieved greater change. Findings suggest that the NHS HTS has the potential to improve population health and reduce health inequalities through behaviour change.
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London. b.gardnersood@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cane
authors.forename: Nichola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rumsey
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013222:State Medicine; D014852:Wales; D055815:Young Adult