Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2026

Physical and mental health outcomes of Aboriginal adults living with severe obesity enrolled in a holistic indigenist specialist metabolic program (144876)

Dickson Gitonga 1 , Sophia Malie 2 , Taylah Hansen 2 , Kate McBride 1 , Kathy Grudzinskas 3 , Aunty Kerrie Doyle 4 , Lachlan Wright 2 , Jemma Gibbs 5 , Nick Kormas 6 , Milan Piya 1
  1. Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  2. Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation Aboriginal Medical Service, Airds, NSW, Australia
  3. SWSLHD , Nurse Practitioner & Diabetes Educator, Camden, NSW, Australia
  4. Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia
  5. SWSLHD Aboriginal Health, Director Aboriginal Health, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
  6. NSW Health, Senior Staff Specialist Endocrinologist, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia

Background

Aboriginal people are disproportionately affected by overweight, obesity and their associated comorbidities, being 1.16 times more likely to be living with overweight or obesity compared to non-Aboriginal population. Approximately 13% live with severe obesity, defined as BMI ³ 35kg/m2. However, there is limited research on the health outcomes of Aboriginal adults living with severe obesity managed in a multidisciplinary program. The aim of this study was to describe the baseline physical and mental health characteristics of Aboriginal adults undergoing multidisciplinary care in a culturally responsive, holistic indigenised metabolic program, and their weight outcomes at 6 and 12 months

Methods

Adults with Confirmation of Aboriginality living with severe obesity were eligible to attend the multidisciplinary metabolic program based in the local Aboriginal Medical Service. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted with participant data collected at baseline, 6 months, 12 months using survey instruments (K-10, DASS-21, EDE-QS, EQ-5D-5L) on REDCap in addition to standard approach anthropometric and clinical measurements.

Results

Of 45 patients who had data captured at baseline had mean age (±SD) 43.7±13.8 years, 84.4% were female, weight 130.0±23.4kg, BMI 46.4±7.6kg/m2. Of these individuals, 43.6% had type 2 diabetes, 38.5% hypertension, 38.9% sleep apnoea and 26.3% dyslipidaemia. There was a high psychological distress level (K-10 score 26.2±8.0), and risk of moderate depression, anxiety and stress (DASS-21 scores 7.9±5.5, 6.1±4.7 and 9.7±5.0 respectively). Participants experienced statistically significant weight reductions at both the 6-month (3.3kg, p<0.05) and 12-month follow-up (3.7kg, p<0.05), and there was a statistically significant decrease in psychological distress, risk of anxiety, and stress (p<0.05 for all 3) at 6 months.

Discussion and conclusion

Culturally responsive multidisciplinary weight loss programs, designed and implemented in partnership with the community, appear to be effective in addressing the physical and mental health needs of Aboriginal Australians living with severe obesity.