The degree of engagement of overweight/obese adult women in the recommended activities of the Chilean "Vida Sana" program is directly correlated with its effectiveness.

Abstract

Introduction: the Chilean Ministry of Health implements the Vida Sana (VS) program with the objective of reducing risk factors for chronic diseases in overweight/obese (OW/OB) individuals, aged 2-64. Objective: to determine the effectiveness of VS in OW/OB women (20-44 yrs) in terms of their engagement in the recommended activities. These consist of participating in a minimum number each of three core activities (psychologist consultations, lifestyle workshops, and physical activity sessions) during 6 months, to obtain a 5 % weight loss and improved physical fitness (PF). Methods: a retrospective study involving secondary analyses of the 2017 VS database (n = 5,179 OW/OB women). We determined effectiveness by: a) comparing changes in weight and PF in participants who achieved one or both outcomes, using t-tests and tests of proportions, and b) assessing the probability of achieving the program´s goal, according to participation in 1, 2, or 3 core activities, individually and jointly, using the OR (95 % CI) and trend analysis. Results: around 32 %, 88 %, and 29 % of women achieved 5 % weight loss, improved PF, and both, respectively. The high percentage of women who improved PF was due to a permissive criterion. Although 20 % of women attained the program´s goal with 0 engagement, among participants, the ORs (95 % CI) for achieving the program´s goal when engaging in 1, 2, or 3 core activities were 1.55 (CI 1.2-2.03), 2.34 (1.76-3.11), and 3.5 (2.21-5.53), respectively. Conclusion: effectiveness parallels degree of engagement in the recommended activities of VS. A characterization of a program´s participation rate is crucial for improving its effectiveness.