The high prevalence of obesity and prediabetes among the young working age groups of Pasifika people (18-45 years old) is alarmingly high. If left untreated, the likelihood of developing potentially fatal long term conditions is high.
Lifestyle intervention programmes that use a culturally-centred approach, that are led by the community, and consider the social-physical-cultural realities of the environment, are far more likely to be effective in addressing obesity, and prediabetes.
Working in a collaborative partnership with Pasifika communities, this study proposes to implement two different lifestyle programmes that empower Pasifika communities to lead healthier lifestyles and to live independently:
- Youth empowerment programme obesity study (15-24 year olds)
- Young adults prediabetes study (25-45 year olds)
Both programmes aim to build knowledge, understanding, and skills to empower behavioural changes to reduce the perpetual prevalence of obesity and prediabetes.
This research project is funded by the Ministry of Health, Health Research Council and Healthier Lives National Science Challenge as part of the Long Term Conditions Partnership.
The Pasifika Prediabetes Youth Empowerment Programme (PPYEP)
Science Leader and principal investigator
Associate investigators
- Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath
- Dr Max Schleser
- Dr Anna Matheson
- Associate Professor Claire Ing
- Associate Professor Keawe Kaholokula
- Professor Blakely Brown
- Professor Barry Borman
- Dr Lis Ellison-Loschmann
- Ms Gertrude Tevita
Related publications
- Pasifika Youth Empowerment Programme: a potential public health approach in tackling obesity-health related issues AlterNative 2018, Vol. 14(1) 63–72
Related news
- Empowering Pacific Youth to Lead Healthier Lives The Fono, April 2018
- New research projects for long-term health conditions August 2017
- Dr Firestone on the Pasifika Youth Empowerment Programme YouTube.com (5m 23s), July 2017
- New partnership to improve health of New Zealanders June 2016