Abstract
BackgroundPeople in transitional life stages, such as occupational retirement, are likely to gain weight and accumulate abdominal fat mass caused by changes in physical activity and diet. Hence, retirees are an important target group for weight gain prevention programmes, as described in the present paper.Methods/DesignA systematic and stepwise approach (Intervention Mapping) is used to develop a low-intensity energy balance intervention programme for recent retirees. This one-year, low-intensity multifaceted programme aims to prevent accumulation of abdominal fat mass and general weight gain by increasing awareness of energy balance and influencing related behaviours of participants' preference. These behaviours are physical activity, fibre intake, portion size and fat consumption. The effectiveness of the intervention programme is tested in a cluster randomised controlled trial. Measurements of anthropometry, physical activity, energy intake, and related psychosocial determinants are performed at baseline and repeated at 6 months for intermediate effect, at 12 months to evaluate short-term intervention effects and at 24 months to test the sustainability of the effects.DiscussionThis intervention programme is unique in its focus on retirees and energy balance. It aims at increasing awareness and takes into account personal preferences of the users by offering several options for behaviour change. Moreover, the intervention programme is evaluated at short-term and long-term and includes consecutive outcome measures (determinants, behaviour and body composition).
Highlights
People in transitional life stages, such as occupational retirement, are likely to gain weight and accumulate abdominal fat mass caused by changes in physical activity and diet
This paper presents the development of the intervention programme and the study design of the cluster randomised controlled trial, called the Wageningen Approach against fat Accumulation and weight Gain (WAAG-Study)
This study protocol presents the development of a lowintensity, multifaceted individually tailored energy balance programme and presents the design of the cluster randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of the programme
Summary
This study protocol presents the development of a lowintensity, multifaceted individually tailored energy balance programme and presents the design of the cluster randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of the programme. The content of the programme focuses on increasing awareness of energy balance and subsequently adapting behaviours according to participants' preferences To our knowledge, this intervention programme is unique because it applies energy balance strategies to a population of recently retired people. This intervention programme is unique because it applies energy balance strategies to a population of recently retired people This population is at risk for changes in daily routine physical activity and diet, because they leave the work force. If these changes are unfavourable they may lead to excessive body weight and accumulation of body fat. Results from the trial are expected in 2007 and if effective and sustainable, the programme will be implemented in order to reach all 100,000 retirees per year in the Netherlands
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