title: Perceived barriers to and ideas for weight control interventions in Malay homemakers: results from focus groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a better understanding of perceived barriers to and ideas for weight loss and maintenance among Malay homemakers in Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventions for weight management were reviewed, and 5 focus groups were conducted among overweight and obese Malay homemakers (n = 24) to explore barriers to and concepts and ideas pertaining to weight loss and maintenance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Barriers identified included the lack of time, finances, and motivation. Ideas that were most appealing included free health screening, workshops on how best to manage children and family, regular fun group activities, monetary incentives for participation in activities for healthy living, and flexible part-time jobs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The focus groups provided useful insights pointing toward possible interventions that could appeal to Malay homemakers in Singapore. The most appealing approaches were those that were time flexible and had the least financial burden or had a financial benefit.
authors.affiliation: Singapore General Hospital, Singapore cindy.ng.l.w@sgh.com.sg.
authors.forename: Li Whye Cindy
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.affiliation: ACORN Marketing & Research Consultants PTE LTD, Singapore.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: E Shyong
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.affiliation: Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Truls
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Østbye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000068959:Body Weight Maintenance; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: family medicine; health care services; health management; health promotion; qualitative research; weight; women health