An innovative 麻豆直播 of Technology professor has developed a peer support program to help middle-aged men fight obesity.
The Waist Disposal Challenge (WDC) 鈥� Australia鈥檚 only community-based program targeting middle-aged men 鈥� has helped participants lose weight聽 and in turn reduced their risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Professor Samar Aoun, of Curtin鈥檚 Faculty of Health Sciences, said the program had proved extremely successful.
鈥淲e successfully trialled the WDC with about 750 men from 23 Rotary Clubs across WA,鈥� she said.
鈥淢ost clubs had 50 per cent or more of their members lose weight and reduce their body mass index (BMI).
鈥淚t was also pleasing to see that at three clubs 70 per cent of their members lost weight.鈥�
Professor Aoun said there were three key aspects of program that helped with weight loss.
鈥淎ll participants were advised on nutrition, exercise and other healthy lifestyle habits through educational presentations at club meetings,鈥� she said.
鈥淐lubs also competed against each other to see which had the largest reduction in BMI to win the Waist Disposal Trophy.
鈥淭his ongoing competition was recorded on a leader board which helped spur on participants.
鈥淭wo volunteers from each club, called 鈥榗hampions,鈥� were also used to encourage their peers to adopt a healthier lifestyle and take charge of the competition.
鈥淟ifestyle coaching by telephone was another part of the program that proved crucial to its success.鈥�
A Federal Government research grant has now helped to expand the program to 51 additional clubs across WA involving about 1,500 members, with benefits of the program flowing on to members鈥� partners, families and work associates as well.
Professor Aoun said the study showed the power of social networks in motivating change.
鈥淭he role and influence of champions as lay leaders in the program was also particularly effective,鈥� she said.
In the expanded study, one of the main goals is to train champions to have increased ownership of the program.
鈥淲e are now training champions to be able to implement the WDC in their own clubs without health professionals having to deliver the education component,鈥� Professor Aoun said.
鈥淏y training the champions this will decrease reliance on health professionals and reduce the burden on the health system as more and more people live with chronic diseases and live longer.
鈥淭o date there are already 93 Rotary champions from 51 WA clubs participating in the training program.
鈥淲e want to empower communities so that they can lead the fight against obesity.鈥�
A number of organisations have been supportive of the earlier stages of this program including Australian Rotary Health, Edith Cowan University, Telstra, Rotary Clubs of Melville and South Bunbury, WA Country Health Services, Glaxo Smith Kline and NovoNordisk.
Professor Aoun is currently seeking funding to expand the WDC program to a national level.
