Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre (HPALS), FIMS International Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine, Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7935, South Africa.
Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa.
Nutrients. 2024 Sep 11;16(18):3062. doi: 10.3390/nu16183062.
Given the high prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst educators, this study investigated the feasibility of the 16-week Health4LIFE weight loss intervention for primary school educators living with overweight/obesity in low-income settings in Cape Town, South Africa. The research comprised two sub-studies, a pilot randomised controlled trial testing the intervention (10 intervention, = 79 and 10 control schools, = 58), and an investigation of the perceptions of participating educators and principals. Feasibility outcomes included reach, applicability, acceptability, implementation integrity, and a hypothesis-generating signal of effect on lifestyle factors and weight. The intervention consisted of a wellness day, weight loss manual, and text messages. Results indicated acceptable reach, with positive feedback on intervention components from principals and educators. Implementation was largely successful, though three schools dropped out due to scheduling issues. Barriers included interruption of teaching time and busy school schedules. The intervention group ( = 42) showed favourable shifts in belief patterns, stages of change, and lifestyle behaviours, with a trend towards weight loss. Control group ( = 43) changes were limited to dietary intake. The triangulation of results supported the intervention's feasibility in terms of primary and secondary outcomes. Recommendations for enhancement include adding in-person follow-up sessions and an app-based element to potentially increase impact on lifestyle indicators and weight loss.
鉴于超重和肥胖在教育工作者中普遍存在，本研究调查了在南非开普敦低收入环境中，针对超重/肥胖的小学教育工作者开展为期 16 周的 Health4LIFE 减肥干预的可行性。该研究由两项子研究组成，一项是试点随机对照试验测试干预措施（10 个干预组，n = 79；10 个对照组，n = 58），另一项是对参与教育工作者和校长的看法进行调查。可行性结果包括可达性、适用性、可接受性、实施完整性，以及对生活方式因素和体重影响的假设生成信号。干预措施包括一个健康日、减肥手册和短信。结果表明，可达性可接受，校长和教育工作者对干预措施的各个组成部分给予了积极的反馈。实施在很大程度上是成功的，尽管有三所学校因日程安排问题而退出。障碍包括教学时间的中断和繁忙的学校日程。干预组（n = 42）的信念模式、改变阶段和生活方式行为发生了有利的转变，体重呈下降趋势。对照组（n = 43）的变化仅限于饮食摄入。结果的三角验证支持了干预措施在主要和次要结果方面的可行性。增强建议包括增加面对面的随访会议和基于应用程序的元素，以可能对生活方式指标和体重减轻产生更大的影响。
