title: Appetite for change: a multidisciplinary team approach to behavioral modification for weight management in a community health group setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is a growing issue in Australia with limited evidence for brief community based intervention. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the long term effects of a 4-week group based multidisciplinary behavior management program for weight loss in the community health setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental study design was employed recruiting patients referred to two Community Health Centers. Participants completed a 4-week Appetite for change program, comprising four 2-h group sessions co-facilitated by a multidisciplinary team. The mindfulness self efficacy scale (MSES), quality of life scale (QoL), and self-reported knowledge and stages of change were measured pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and, 6 and 12 months post-treatment. Weight and waist circumference were additionally measured at baseline, 6 and 12 months post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty participants (mean age 63 ± 12.1 years) comprising 73 % women consented to participate. Statistically significant improvements (p ≤ 0.01) from pre-treatment were found at both 6 and 12 months, with a clinically significant mean percentage weight loss of approximately 4 %, and a mean improvement of 8.5 point on QoL at 12 months follow-up. Self-reported improvements in stages of change and knowledge were also maintained at 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinically and statistically significant long term improvements in all outcomes were found following a multidisciplinary brief intervention program for overweight/obese adults in the community health setting. The promising results following the Appetite for Change program warrant further controlled investigation.
authors.affiliation: Gold Coast Health Service, Southport, Australia. samantha.cannon@gmail.com.|Adult Community Health, Helensvale, Gold Coast, Australia. samantha.cannon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.affiliation: Gold Coast Health Service, Southport, Australia.|Adult Community Health, Helensvale, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lawry
authors.affiliation: Gold Coast Health Service, Southport, Australia.|Adult Community Health, Helensvale, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brudell
authors.affiliation: Gold Coast Health Service, Southport, Australia.|Adult Community Health, Helensvale, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Gold Coast Health Service, Southport, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wenke
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bisset
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Brief intervention; Mindfulness; Obesity; Overweight; Weight loss