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Get Involved Reach Top Health (GIRTH): A community-based, peer-led group lifestyle modification program for men - A
Margaret McGee1, Vanessa Glennon1, Kate Warren2
1Freemasons Centre for Male Health & Wellbeing, Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide and South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.
Obesity Research & Clinical Practice
|August 21, 2025
Summary
The GIRTH program, a peer-led lifestyle modification for men, significantly reduced waist circumference and cardiometabolic risk factors compared to information alone. This men's health initiative demonstrated superior outcomes in improving key health indicators.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Preventive Medicine
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Men are underrepresented in community-based lifestyle modification programs (LMP).
- Addressing cardiometabolic risk factors in men is crucial for public health.
- Peer-led interventions may enhance engagement and effectiveness in male populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of the GIRTH program, a peer-led, group-based LMP for men.
- To evaluate GIRTH's impact on reducing cardiometabolic risk factors in men.
- To compare the effectiveness of GIRTH against a control group receiving only healthy lifestyle information.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-randomised trial involving 178 men allocated to either a control group or the GIRTH program.
- The GIRTH program consisted of 12 weekly face-to-face sessions focusing on health literacy, goal setting, problem-solving, and self-monitoring.
- Primary outcome was waist circumference change over 12 weeks; secondary outcomes included BMI, blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose, diet, physical activity, and self-efficacy scores.
Main Results:
- The GIRTH group showed a significantly greater reduction in waist circumference compared to the control group (intention-to-treat: -4.2 cm vs -1.9 cm; p=0.002).
- Both groups improved in weight, BMI, blood pressure, and self-efficacy for coping and sleep, but the GIRTH group also showed improvements in HDL, TC/HDL ratio, and exercise self-efficacy.
- Higher retention rates were observed in the GIRTH group (88%) compared to the control group (68%).
Conclusions:
- The GIRTH program is more effective than information alone in reducing waist circumference and cardiometabolic risk factors in men.
- Peer-led, group-based lifestyle modification programs can be a successful strategy for improving men's health.
- The findings support the implementation of targeted LMPs for male populations to address health disparities.
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