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Abdominal obesity reduction in Indigenous men

International Journal of Obesity volume 23, pages 564–569 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of a men’s ‘waist loss’ program over one year in Indigenous men.

DESIGN: Pre-and post-test measurements of 47 Indigenous men on four island groups in the Torres Strait region of Northern Australia involved in a version of the ‘GutBuster’ program, modified by and for Indigenous men.

RESULTS: Weight, waist and hip size of 47 men, and body fat estimated from electrical impedence measures of 27 men, were compared at baseline, after approx 2 months, approx 6 months and approx one year. Average weight loss was 3.3 kg (3.5%), and waist loss 4.0 cm (3.5%). The average percentage decrease in fat mass (FM) was 10.8%. An environmental audit technique highlighted modifications needed to the environment to assist behaviour change.

CONCLUSIONS: Education-behaviour change interventions of this kind may offer opportunities for health improvements in Indigenous men.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, Deakin University Melbourne, and Centre for Health Promotion and Research, Sydney, Australia

    G Egger

  2. Department of Tropical Medicine and Nutrition, University of Queensland, Torres Strait Island campus, Australia

    G Fisher

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Nutrition and Preventive Medicine Unit, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    S Piers

  4. Far North Queensland and Torres Strait Island Division, Queensland Department of Health, Cairns, Australia

    K Bedford, G Morseau, S Sabasio, B Taipim, G Bani, M Assan & P Mills

Authors
  1. G Egger
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  2. G Fisher
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  3. S Piers
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  4. K Bedford
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  5. G Morseau
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  6. S Sabasio
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  7. B Taipim
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  8. G Bani
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  9. M Assan
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  10. P Mills
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G Egger.

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Egger, G., Fisher, G., Piers, S. et al. Abdominal obesity reduction in Indigenous men. Int J Obes 23, 564–569 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800869

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800869

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