Högskolan i Skövde

The prevalence of obesity is increasing dramatically among younger Swedes, and prevention is considered the only feasible public health strategy for addressing the growing problem. The following pilot work has been conducted while developing an intervention program aiming to prevent weight gain and progression of obesity among 18-25 year olds with high-risk familial profiles for obesity. First, exploratory interviews conducted in the target population were strongly indicative of a need for individualized programs. Thus, a flexible intervention program has been designed ('Health-Hunters'). whose objectives are to increase energy expenditure, modify obesity-related dietary practices, and promote behavioral skills that support these lifestyle changes, while offering individualized weight control modules when appropriate. A pilot study has now achieved its goal of recruiting 40 young men and women of varying familial predisposition, conducting baseline examinations, and randomizing to intervention or control groups. The Health-Hunters program, which offers support through mail, phone, and personal contact, has been initiated in the intervention group. Based on differences in motivation between predisposed and non-predisposed pilot subjects, it was decided to limit the full study to subjects with at least one obese parent. They are recruited via their severely overweight parents who are participants in the ongoing Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) project. The program's short-term impact will be judged primarily in terms of measured changes in body composition and physical fitness in the intervention vs control groups after 1 year.