THE CHALLENGE: OBESITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT
Obesity across the FCE (France Channel England) area is a significant concern; high levels of obesity coincide with high rates of unemployment across the zone. A Gallup poll shows that the longer a person is unemployed, the higher the rates of obesity, with rates reaching up to 32.7% after a year or more of unemployment.
ASPIRE will give obese/overweight and/or unemployed people the tools they need to make healthier lifestyle choices and improve their employability. Current health and employment services rarely work together to tackle the issues as one problem, despite the evidence that they are linked.
Current services also have difficulties in reaching the target audience due to the remoteness of much of the non-urban target population. Public Health England data shows a correlation between the fact that most services are delivered in town centre locations (lower obesity rates) and rural populations are disadvantaged (higher obesity rates) as access to services is harder.
Scottish Section Conference 2023 – Diet, health and inequalities
Body composition and motivations for accessing an innovative, digital community health engagement tool in socially deprived areas.
- Sophia Amenyah (Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth)
- Lee-Ann Fenge (Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK)
- Julie Stallard (Wellbeing People Ltd, Maidstone)
- Phillip Lerwill (Wellbeing People Ltd, Maidstone)
- Ben McGannan (Wellbeing People Ltd, Maidstone)
- Natália Oliveira (Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK)
- Wen Tang (Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth)
- Jane Murphy (Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK)
Introduction
Obesity remains a critical public health challenge which adversely impacts health expectancy, quality of life, mortality and morbidity. The effects are even more pronounced in individuals living in socially deprived circumstances(1). Engaging individuals within the community using novel and person-centred approaches remains a critical pathway to prevention and improving the health of individuals living with overweight and obesity. Limited research has explored the motivations of individuals living with obesity to engage with community health and engagement services as an alternative to general practice services.
The aim of this study is to assess the associations between body composition and the use of a novel community health engagement tool in socially deprived communities.
Methods
Data for this study was collected as part of the larger Adding to Social capital and individual Potential In disadvantaged Regions (ASPIRE) study(2)using the Interactive Health Kiosk(2). The Health Kiosk is an interactive health and wellbeing engagement tool based on validated measures which allows users to do a health MOT, by measuring body composition and other health and wellbeing metrics. Data on demography, body composition and motivation for using the Health Kiosk, were extracted for this analysis.
Results
A total of 2473 participants, 59.7% female, mean age of 48±18.6 years were included in this analysis. Average BMI was 28.0±6.0kg/m2, with the majority of participants in the pre-obesity category (34.8%). Motivations for using the Health Kiosk included the following: Worried about health (18.8%), Not able to see doctor (5.2%), Encouraged by family/friend (6.8%), Encouraged by staff at hub (23.9%), Health conscious (13.0%), More convenient than visiting doctor (3.5%) and Other (28.9%). Participants’ motivations for using health kiosk differed according to age, sex and employment status (p<0.001). Post-hoc analysis indicated that individuals who were worried about their health (53.3±17.6 years) or with limited access to a doctor (53.9±17.4 years) were older compared to individuals encouraged by family/friends (46.1±17.9) or hub staff (37.8±16.4) or health conscious. Participants motivations for using health kiosk indicated significant differences in BMI (p<0.001) and BFC (p<0.001). BMI for health-conscious individuals (26.4±5.2kgm-2) while still in the overweight category, was significantly lower compared to individuals who were worried about their health (28.9±6.1kgm-2), encouraged by family/friends (28.8±6.6kgm-2) or encouraged by hub staff (28.2±7.3kgm-2). Similarly, health-conscious individuals (30.9±8.6%) had significantly lower BFC compared to those worried about their health (35.2±10.2%), had limited access to a doctor (34.9±10.2%), encouraged by family/friends (34.4±11.2%) or indicated that health kiosk was more convenient than visiting the doctor (35.0±8.1%).
Conclusions
This study provides critical and novel evidence on motivations for accessing a health engagement tool within socially deprived communities. It highlights the need and use of community-centred health engagement approaches to reduce and prevent obesity and presents potential options for commissioning health improvement and preventive services.
Topics
- Novel nutrition research methodologies and technologies: encompasses the development of methodologies by which nutrition is studied.
Additional Info
| References – Please read the instructions.: |
- Blüher M (2019). Nat Rev Endocrinol 15(5), 288–98.
- Amenyah SD, Murphy JL & Fenge, LA. (2021) BMC Public Health 21(582), 1–11.
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| Acknowledgments : |
This work is funded by grants from the EU Interreg European Regional Development Fund (ASPIRE 191). The authors thank the participants and all the team members of the Adding to Social capital and individual Potential In disadvantaged Regions (ASPIRE) project. |
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| Author and institution address – Please read the instructions: |
S.D. Amenyah1, L-A. Fenge1, J. Stallard2, P. Lerwill2, B. McGannan2, N. Oliveira1, W. Tang3, J.L. Murphy1.
1. Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK. 2. Wellbeing People Ltd, Maidstone, UK and 3. Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth UK. |
