Anne C Grunseit1,2, Erika Bohn-Goldbaum1,2, Melanie Crane1,2, Andrew Milat1,3, Aaron Cashmore3,4, Rose Fonua5, Angela Gow5, Rachael Havrlant6, Kate Reid5, Kiel Hennessey6, Willow Firth7, Adrian Bauman1,2. 1. The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, New South Wales. 2. Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales. 3. Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health, New South Wales. 4. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of NSW, New South Wales. 5. NSW Office of Preventive Health, New South Wales. 6. Agency for Clinical Innovation, New South Wales. 7. South Coast Women's Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation, New South Wales.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore participation, consistency of demographic and health profiles, and short-term impacts across six Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge (KHC) team-based weight loss competitions, 2012 to 2015. METHODS: Data comprised one competition each from 2012 and 2013 and two per year in 2014 and 2015. We compared baseline and change (pre- to post-competition) in weight, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and waist circumference (baseline only) across competitions using mixed models. RESULTS: Numbers of teams and participants increased from 2012 to 2015 from 13 and 324 to 33 and 830, respectively. A total of 3,625 participants registered, representing 2,645 unique people (25.4% repeat participation). Participants were mainly female and >90% were classified obese at baseline. Baseline weight and weight lost (between 1.9% and 2.5%) were significantly lower in subsequent competitions compared with the first. Improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity were comparable across competitions. CONCLUSION: The KHC has increasing and sustained appeal among Aboriginal communities, attracting those at risk from lifestyle-associated chronic disease and effectively reducing weight and promoting healthy lifestyles in the short term. Implications for public health: Community-led programs generated by, and responsive to, Aboriginal Australians' needs can demonstrate consistent community reach and sustained program-level lifestyle improvements.
OBJECTIVE: To explore participation, consistency of demographic and health profiles, and short-term impacts across six Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge (KHC) team-based weight loss competitions, 2012 to 2015. METHODS: Data comprised one competition each from 2012 and 2013 and two per year in 2014 and 2015. We compared baseline and change (pre- to post-competition) in weight, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and waist circumference (baseline only) across competitions using mixed models. RESULTS: Numbers of teams and participants increased from 2012 to 2015 from 13 and 324 to 33 and 830, respectively. A total of 3,625 participants registered, representing 2,645 unique people (25.4% repeat participation). Participants were mainly female and >90% were classified obese at baseline. Baseline weight and weight lost (between 1.9% and 2.5%) were significantly lower in subsequent competitions compared with the first. Improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity were comparable across competitions. CONCLUSION: The KHC has increasing and sustained appeal among Aboriginal communities, attracting those at risk from lifestyle-associated chronic disease and effectively reducing weight and promoting healthy lifestyles in the short term. Implications for public health: Community-led programs generated by, and responsive to, Aboriginal Australians' needs can demonstrate consistent community reach and sustained program-level lifestyle improvements.
Authors: Erika Bohn-Goldbaum; Aaron Cashmore; Adrian Bauman; Anna Sullivan; Lose Rose Fonua; Andrew Milat; Kate Reid; Anne Grunseit Journal: Prev Med Rep Date: 2022-01-29