image: Family-Based Lifestyle Intervention Improves Weight Management and Cardiovascular Health Among High-Risk Patients
Credit: Annals of Family Medicine
Original Research
Family-Based Lifestyle Intervention Improves Weight Management and Cardiovascular Health Among High-Risk Patients
Background and Goal: The PROgramme of Lifestyle Intervention in Families for Cardiovascular risk reduction (PROLIFIC) Study, conducted in India, aimed to assess whether a family-based approach to lifestyle interventions could improve weight management and obesity-related health outcomes among individuals with a family history of premature coronary heart disease.
Study Approach: In this cluster randomized controlled trial, families were randomly assigned to a family-based intervention group or a usual care group. The intervention group received structured lifestyle counseling from nonphysician health workers, who provided regular home visits, goal-setting, and peer group sessions focused on diet, physical activity, and cardiovascular health. The usual care group received one-time counseling and annual cardiovascular risk screenings but no ongoing interventions.
Main Results: 1,671 participants (1,111 women) from 750 families participated. After adjusting for family clustering and socio-economic factors, intervention participants experienced, on average, these improvements compared to the usual care group after two years:
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2.61 kg greater reduction in weight (P < .001)
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1.06 kg/m² greater reduction in BMI (P < .001)
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4.17 cm greater reduction in waist circumference (P < .001)
Why It Matters: The findings demonstrate that a family-based approach to lifestyle interventions can significantly improve weight management and cardiovascular health among high-risk individuals. These interventions could have a substantial public health impact in preventing future diabetes and other noncommunicable disease conditions.
Family-Based Interventions to Promote Weight Management in Adults: Results From a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in India
Jeemon Panniyammakal, PhD, et al
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Visual Abstract
Journal
The Annals of Family Medicine