Phone Chats Help Tackle Metabolic Syndrome

Twenty‑seven of the fifty‑eight people who qualified signed up for the trial, which is close to half the pool. They first took a brief, guideline‑based class on nutrition and activity before the phone sessions began.

The program ran ten weekly calls plus two extra boosters. All ten calls were finished by twenty‑four who started, showing a 98 % show‑up rate. The MI delivery scored high on the MITI‑4 check, meaning the counselors were competent.

After half a year, participants walked more – about 974 extra steps each day on average. Their waists shrank by roughly 2.2 cm. Mood and how well they stuck to a healthy diet also got better.

The whole program cost about AUD 515 per person. Because the numbers were small and costs varied, the cost‑effectiveness is still unclear. A larger, longer trial with a full economic review is needed to decide if this phone‑based help can be widely used.