Abstract

Saniya Kauser1, Edwina Raj2, Geetha Santhosh3

ABSTRACT

Obesity is defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as an accumulation of excessive body fat leading to health risks. It has become a growing concern globally. In India, updated statistics highlight a significant surge in obesity rates, particularly among women. Against this backdrop, a study was conducted at Sanjeevini Homeopathy Clinic with the aim of evaluating the impact of a tailored nutrition counselling on overweight and obese women. The study evaluates the counselling’s effectiveness on overweight and obese women. The objectives of the study were to assess anthropometric measurements, biochemical profiles, dietary habits and physical activity in overweight and obese women before and after nutrition counselling, and to develop a nutrition counselling module for the same. A quasi-experimental design recruited overweight and obese women who were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups and provided experimental groups with nutrition counselling. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, dietary intake, and physical activity levels were assessed before and after a month of intervention. The experimental group showed significant improvements in anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, dietary preferences and physical activity. Post nutrition counselling, average weight decreased from 89.27 kg to 87.49 kg, BMI from 33.43 kg/m² to 32.67 kg/m², waist circumference decreased from 106.2 cm to 104.7 cm, and hip circumference from 118.05 cm to 117.3 cm. Fasting blood sugar dropped from 91.03 mg/dl to 89.07 mg/dl, and cholesterol decreased from 175.3 mg/dl to 172.86 mg/dl. Physical activity levels also increased significantly. Dietary analysis was calculated by averaging the mean for all 3 days showed a reduction in the following – Energy (27.07%), protein (20.89%), carbohydrate (24.21%), and fat intake (33.08%) post-intervention. Hence nutrition counselling proved to be effective.