¹Faculty of Health Sciences, Deakin University Melbourne, and Centre for Health Promotion and Research, Sydney, Australia

²Department of Tropical Medicine and Nutrition, University of Queensland, Torres Strait Island campus, Australia

³Nutrition and Preventive Medicine Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

⁴Far North Queensland and Torres Strait Island Division, Queensland Department of Health, Cairns, Australia

Correspondence to: G Egger, CHPR, PO Box 313, Balgowlah, NSW, Australia, 2093 Email: eggergj@ozemail.com.au

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of a men's 'waist loss' program over one year in Indigenous men.

DESIGN: Pre-and post-test measurements of 47 Indigenous men on four island groups in the Torres Strait region of Northern Australia involved in a version of the 'GutBuster' program, modified by and for Indigenous men.

RESULTS: Weight, waist and hip size of 47 men, and body fat estimated from electrical impedence measures of 27 men, were compared at baseline, after approx 2 months, approx 6 months and approx one year. Average weight loss was 3.3 kg (3.5%), and waist loss 4.0 cm (3.5%). The average percentage decrease in fat mass (FM) was 10.8%. An environmental audit technique highlighted modifications needed to the environment to assist behaviour change.

CONCLUSIONS: Education-behaviour change interventions of this kind may offer opportunities for health improvements in Indigenous men.

Indigenous males; obesity; weight loss; waist loss; GutBusters