Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
WORKING OUT AS A FAMILY MAKES LOSING WEIGHT EASIER
This family-based model not only prevented diabetes and other non-communicable diseases but also boosted life expectancy by 3-4 years.
Combating excess weight and eliminating dangerous belly fat extends far beyond cosmetic concerns—it represents a critical battle for enhanced health outcomes and increased longevity. Despite widespread awareness of weight loss benefits, countless individuals continue struggling with stubborn excess pounds.
Recent findings from a 2015-17 research initiative conducted by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST)—published this Monday—promise to revolutionize obesity treatment strategies. Rather than targeting individuals in isolation, scientists discovered that engaging entire family units creates substantially greater impact, presenting an encouraging pathway toward effective weight management and sustained health improvements.
Study Overview
The comprehensive trial monitored 1,671 participants representing 750 households throughout a two-year period, demonstrating that integrated family interventions could significantly influence obesity-related health indicators including body weight, BMI measurements, and waist circumference.
Remarkable Results
The outcomes proved extraordinary. Participating families experienced meaningful health transformations. Study participants achieved an average weight reduction of 2.6 kilograms, recorded decreased BMI values, and reduced waistlines by more than 4 centimeters.
Conversely, control group members who lacked equivalent support systems actually experienced weight gain. This family-centered methodology not only prevented diabetes onset and other chronic conditions but also extended life expectancy by 3-4 years.
Implementation Strategy
The intervention employed a practical, direct-contact approach wherein specially trained community health workers (ASHAs) conducted regular household visits, assisted families in establishing health objectives, and provided actionable guidance on improved nutrition, increased physical activity, and reduction of harmful behaviors including tobacco and alcohol use.
Control group families received standard enhanced care consisting of basic counseling sessions and yearly health screenings.
The Family Dynamic Advantage
Through whole-family engagement, the intervention established supportive environments where healthier practices were both encouraged and maintained. Families worked collectively—not as isolated individuals—to implement small, sustainable modifications such as incorporating additional fruits and vegetables into meals, increasing daily walking, and reducing salt and sugar consumption. These adjustments transcended individual willpower, creating enduring behavioral patterns within family structures.
Expert Commentary
“We demonstrate that our resource-sensitive, context-specific, and culturally appropriate lifestyle intervention model in families effectively reduces the average weight, waist circumference, and body mass index at the population level. Although new pharmacological interventions, which are highly costly, are effective in reducing weight at an individual level in high-risk groups, they would not have achieved a similar effect at the population level.
The very high prevalence of abdominal obesity, especially among women in Kerala, calls for population-wide efforts to reduce obesity and diabetes risk,” explained Dr. Jeemon Panniyammakal, lead researcher and additional professor at the Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies at SCTIMST.
Economic Benefits
These research conclusions emerge during a period when pharmaceutical corporations are investing heavily in expensive obesity medications to address the worldwide weight crisis. Dr. Jeemon emphasized that family-level interventions also provide significant cost savings for healthcare systems.
“The return on investment in our intervention model is guaranteed. Our rough estimates suggest that every Rs 100 invested in our intervention return Rs 1,300 over ten years, given its potential impact on delaying diabetes incidence by at least three years.”
The research confirms that focusing on family units enables sustainable behavioral transformations leading to lasting health improvements.
Study Details: PROLIFIC Progress
The PROgramme of Lifestyle Intervention in Families for Cardiovascular (PROLIFIC) Risk Reduction Trial (2015-17)
- Total participants: 1,671 individuals from 750 families
- Intervention group: 368 families
- Control group: 382 families
- Female participation: 65%
Kerala’s Obesity Challenge
Alarming Statistics:
- Women: 71% have abdominal obesity, 38% are obese (vs. 24% national average)
- Men: 57% have abdominal obesity, 36% are obese (vs. 22.9% national average)
- National context: Approximately 135 million Indians are obese
- Kerala rankings: 8th highest male obesity rates, 9th highest female obesity rates
Source: National Family Health Survey-5, 2019-20
BMI Classification Guide
- Below 18.5: Underweight
- 18.5-24.9: Normal weight
- 25-29.9: Overweight
- 30 and higher: Obese
TO READ MORE, OPEN THE LINK BELOW:
