SHORT-TERM LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION AND ITS IMPACT ON WEIGHT, WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND HEART RATE: A PRE-POST OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease are driven by modifiable lifestyle factors. While long-term interventions are effective, evidence regarding short-term programs in real-world settings remains limited.

Objective: This study evaluated the impact of a 4-week lifestyle intervention on body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and resting heart rate among adults in a community-based setting.

Methods: A pre-post observational design was implemented with 69 adult participants aged 18–60 years. The intervention included dietary counselling, moderate physical activity, stress management techniques, and weekly group check-ins. Anthropometric and physiological measures were recorded at baseline and post-intervention. Paired-sample t-tests assessed pre-post changes, and Pearson’s correlations explored associations among outcomes.

Results: Significant improvements were observed across all variables. Mean weight decreased by 2.5 kg (p<0.001), waist circumference by 3.1 cm (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure by 6.8 mmHg (p<0.001), diastolic blood pressure by 4.5 mmHg (p<0.001), and resting heart rate by 4.2 bpm (p<0.001). Correlation analyses revealed that reductions in weight were moderately associated with improvements in waist circumference (r=0.64, p<0.001) and systolic blood pressure (r=0.49, p<0.001).

Conclusion: A short-term lifestyle modification program produced clinically and statistically significant benefits in weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and heart rate. These findings underscore the potential of time-limited, low-resource interventions to deliver meaningful health improvements and serve as a gateway to sustained behavior change. Future research should assess longer-term maintenance and scalability in diverse populations.