Evaluation of an Asian women's healthy eating and exercise group

Background: A healthy eating and exercise group for Asian women was establi shed in April 1996. A community dietitian, fitness instructor and link work er took part in running the group and funding was provided by Trafford Heal thcare NHS Trust and Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council. The group was r un as a 14-week pilot project, however, due to a positive response the grou p was continued. Aims: To follow up participants in the programme and examine their percepti ons of the programme and changes in weight. Methods: Thirteen of the 15 overweight or obese women who attended the init ial pilot group were Followed up and qualitative evaluation was undertaken using a semistructured interview. Measurement of weight change was also mad e. Results: Formal methods of recruiting participants appear to have had littl e impact. Verbal recommendation of the group by the Link Worker and partici pants appear to have been effective routes for recruiting. Respondents sugg ested that the group fulfilled social and weight loss functions, both funct ions being interrelated and affecting weight. important reasons for no long er attending the group seem to include difficulty getting to the venue and prioritization of the needs of the family over the women's own needs, Conclusions: Some implications for the group are that women should be encou raged to walk to the group with others and it should be stressed that comin g to the group and learning about healthy eating and exercise is important for the women's health and also that of their families. Exercise was a popu lar aspect of the group and it is recommended that exercise sessions are he ld more frequently for a trial period. The resulting effects on attendance could then be assessed. Ail women could relate their weight change to diet and exercise in some way. The women who reported that they would definitely re-attend the group were generally those with a higher BMI (body mass inde x).