Comparison of the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions and multi-interventional therapy on biochemical parameters of metabolic syndrome among women

Authors: Elizabeth A J, Aruna J, Mercy P JJournal: Journal of education and health promotionPublished: January 1, 2023DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_495_23

Q2 JournalSJR: 0.35h-index: 30

Moderate EvidenceObservationaln=220 participants

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Metabolic syndrome is one of the emerging health issues in developing countries. It includes diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and elevated blood cholesterol. This study aimed to compare the effects of two different types of interventions: multi-interventional therapy (MIT) and lifestyle interventions (LIs) on high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar (FBS) among women with metabolic syndrome. The study used a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design with two experimental groups and one control group. This study was conducted among self-help group women from nine area development societies (ADS) in a selected area in South India from March 1, 2019, to February 28, 2020. Women (aged between 35 and 55 years) with metabolic syndrome were recruited by multistage sampling (N = 220) and randomly assigned into three groups: (a) control, (b) MIT (intervention 1), and (c) LIs (intervention 2). Reflexology foot massage, dietary modification, moderate-intensity exercise, and structured education were given to the MIT group and dietary modification, moderate-intensity exercise, and structured education were given to the LI group for 12 weeks. The control group received routine care. A demographic and clinical data sheet is used to collect the basic information. Biochemical variables (HDL, triglycerides, and FBS) were assessed before and after the intervention. The data obtained from the study were computed using a frequency distribution to describe the demographic characteristics, and a Chi-square (x2) test was conducted to find the homogeneity. Both parametric and nonparametric tests were conducted for the comparison of the effectiveness of different methods of interventions on biochemical parameters of metabolic syndrome. Women who received MIT and LI had significantly lower values of HDL, triglycerides, and FBS after the treatment from baseline and compared with the control group. The study found a significant improvement in

Key Findings

✓The study compared multi-interventional therapy and lifestyle interventions as treatments for metabolic syndrome in women aged 35-55 years in South India.
✓The research measured the effects of these interventions on HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar levels in 220 women with metabolic syndrome.
✓The study employed a quasi-experimental design with three groups: a control group, a multi-interventional therapy group, and a lifestyle intervention group.

What This Means for You

While this study suggests reflexology combined with lifestyle changes may help improve metabolic health markers in women, the evidence is moderate and more research is needed before considering it a primary treatment.

What This Means for Practitioners

This quasi-experimental study provides moderate evidence that reflexology integrated with dietary modification and exercise may support improvements in HDL, triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar in women with metabolic syndrome.

Study Design: how this observational study was run

Sample Size

220 participants

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What does this study say about high blood pressure?

What did this study find?

The study compared multi-interventional therapy and lifestyle interventions as treatments for metabolic syndrome in women aged 35-55 years in South India. The research measured the effects of these interventions on HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar levels in 220 women with metabolic syndrome. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with three groups: a control group, a multi-interventional therapy group, and a lifestyle intervention group.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a observational study and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 220 participants. It was published in Journal of education and health promotion, a Q2 journal. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.