SEARCHOTHERpublic health, nutrition

other·public health, nutrition, dietetics, epidemiology, clinical trial·PMC10394542

Feasibility of a peer-supported, WhatsApp-assisted, lifestyle modification intervention for weight reduction among adults in an urban slum of Karachi, Pakistan: a mixed-methods, single-group, pretest–post-test, quasi-experimental study

BMJ Open · 7 authors, 3 centres

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 100%

This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.

AGENT 01 · STRUCTURED SUMMARY

TRACE TO SOURCE

“

TL;DR

This pilot study assessed the feasibility of a peer-supported, WhatsApp-assisted lifestyle modification intervention for weight loss in 50 adults from an urban slum. The intervention was feasible, resulting in a mean weight loss of 2.2 kg and a reduction in calorie intake at 1 year.

Full summary

776 CHARS

This 1-year pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a peer-supported lifestyle modification intervention delivered via WhatsApp for weight reduction in a Pakistani urban slum. The study included 50 adults with a BMI >23 kg/m^2 and their family peers. Quantitative results showed a recruitment rate of 32%, a retention rate of 78%, and monthly response rates between 66% and 94%. At 1 year, the mean weight loss was 2.2 kg, and mean calorie intake decreased by 386 kcal/day, with no change in calorie expenditure. Qualitative interviews with participants and peers indicated the intervention was convenient, flexible, and supportive. The findings support the feasibility of scaling up the intervention with modifications to improve physical activity adherence and recruitment.

STUDY TYPE

other

SPECIALTY

public health

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10394542

Feasibility of a peer-supported, WhatsApp-assisted, lifestyle modification intervention for weight reduction among adults in an urban slum of Karachi, Pakistan: a mixed-methods, single-group, pretest–post-test, quasi-experimental study

BMJ Open

READ THE FULL PAPER

ABSTRACT

Objectives This pilot study assessed whether a peer-supported, WhatsApp-assisted lifestyle modification intervention for weight reduction is feasible to execute a definitive trial. Design A mixed-methods, single group, pretest and post-test, quasi-experimental study. Setting Azam Basti, an urban slum in Karachi, Pakistan. Participants Fifty participants (males and females aged 20–60) with a body mass index of > 23 kg/m 2 , along with their nominated peers from the same family. Intervention Using motivational interviewing techniques, a trained nutritionist delivered the lifestyle modification intervention to the participants and peers for 3 days after the baseline assessment and then once monthly for 1 year. The intervention was delivered in groups using WhatsApp voice calls. The education sessions mainly focused on dietary modifications, physical activity advice and peer-support assignments to achieve a 5% wt loss from the participant’s initial body weight. Outcomes The feasibility measures included screening, recruitment, retention and monthly interview response rates. At 1 year, in-depth interviews (IDIs) with participants and peers were conducted to explore the facilitators, barriers, acceptability and experiences of the intervention. Changes in weight, calorie intake/day and calorie expenditure/day were also assessed. Results The recruitment and retention rates were 32% (n=50/156) and 78% (n=39/50), respectively, while the response rate for monthly interviews ranged between 66% (n=33) and 94% (n=47). The mean weight loss at 1 year was 2.2 kg, and the reduction in mean calorie intake was 386 kcal/day. There were no changes in the mean calorie expenditure. During the IDIs, participants and peers reported intervention via WhatsApp and peer support as convenient, flexible and supportive. Conclusions The quantitative and qualitative findings of the current pilot study support the scale-up of this work with minor modifications to the screening method as well as close monitoring and motivational interviewing to improve adherence in terms of physical activity. Trial registration number NCT05928338 .

CITATION EXPORT

Sabahat Naz, Kaniz Amna Haider, Ali Jaffar et al.. Feasibility of a peer-supported, WhatsApp-assisted, lifestyle modification intervention for weight reduction among adults in an urban slum of Karachi, Pakistan: a mixed-methods, single-group, pretest–post-test, quasi-experimental study. BMJ Open. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070913

AUTHORS

7 · 3 CENTRES

Sabahat Naz, Kaniz Amna Haider, Ali Jaffar, Umber Khan, Iqbal Azam, Amna Rehana Siddiqui, Romaina Iqbal

1Community Health Sciences Department, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
2Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
3Department of Community Health Sciences and Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan