Imagine wanting to lose weight, but the programs and support available don’t work well for you. This is a problem many Deaf sign language users face.
Traditional weight loss programs might not take into account the unique needs and experiences of the Deaf community.
As a result, these programs might feel out of reach or isolated.
A Creative Solution: Deaf Weight Wise Program
But now, a specialized weight loss program called Deaf Weight Wise is making a difference. This program was created by Deaf people for Deaf people.
A study by the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) showed that Deaf Weight Wise helped people lose weight.
The Study: How Was It Done?
Over six months, participants in Deaf Weight Wise lost an average of 12.5 pounds. More than half of them (62%) lost at least 5% of their starting weight.
This level of weight loss is considered important for health. On the other hand, a control group of Deaf sign language users lost an average of only 5 pounds, and only 18% of them lost at least 5% of their starting weight.
The study included 104 adults. All of them used sign language and lived in the Rochester area. They had a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 45, which suggests they were overweight or obese. Half of the participants were assigned to start the Deaf Weight Wise program right away, and the other half started the program a year later.
What Makes Deaf Weight Wise Special?
Deaf Weight Wise isn’t just any weight loss program. It’s designed specifically for the Deaf community.
The program encourages healthy habits like eating well and getting at least 150 minutes of exercise every week.
The goal is to help participants lose one to two pounds per week. This is considered a safe and healthy rate of weight loss.
The program started with weekly group meetings for 16 weeks. These meetings were led by trained Deaf counselors. The meetings were a place for learning, socializing, and support.
During these weeks, participants tracked what they ate and how much they exercised. They could earn rewards for keeping a daily diary.
After the 16 weeks, participants continued to check in with their counselors.
They would weigh in, talk about their diet and exercise habits, solve problems, set goals, and make plans for long-term success. They also stayed in touch by email and videophone.
Feedback: How Did Participants Like It?
People loved the Deaf Weight Wise program. In fact, more people finished the program than the researchers expected. This high success rate suggests that the program was a good fit for the participants.
One participant, Earl Allen, liked the program so much that he’s now a research coordinator for Deaf Weight Wise.
He says the program has special meaning to him because it helped him lose weight in 2018. He’s excited to help evolve the program.
What’s Next for Deaf Weight Wise?
The researchers want to make Deaf Weight Wise even better. They’re working on expanding the program to include people of different ages and from different places.
They hope the program will become widely available and even covered by insurance, just like some other health programs.
In conclusion, Deaf Weight Wise is a weight loss program that’s proving to be a great tool for the Deaf community.
It shows how important it is to create health programs that meet the unique needs of different groups of people.
And it’s a great example of how people can create solutions when they understand the problem and the community they’re serving.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about popular weight loss diets linked to heart disease and cancer, and this exercise has unique benefits for weight loss.
For more information about weight loss, please see recent studies that green diet can reduce belly fat much better, and newest diabetes drugs may lower body weight and blood sugar.
The study was published in Obesity.
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