SAATH strongly pitching for exercise

India Post News Service

A couple times a week, a group of South Asian women gather in the Chicago suburbs to share friendship and joy, and another important purpose:  to exercise and improve their health. This is a chance for them to learn how to exercise in a way that feels comfortable and culturally familiar.

The South Asians Active Together (SAATH) Study team is offering an important program to the South Asian community.Research shows that individuals of South Asian descent have the highest risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.Exercise can prevent these health problems.

However, some people do not exercise because they donot feel comfortable in a gym. Other people are not sure how to start exercising. South Asian(Asian Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalis, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankans) Americans do less exercise compared to Americans from other race and ethnic backgrounds. The SAATHStudy provides South Asian American women and girls with fun ways to exercise. SAATH holds women-only classes for mothers and daughters.The research team created the exercise program specifically for South Asian women and girls. The study also offers:health screenings at no cost, the chanceto meet other people from the community or make new friends,the chance for mothers and daughters to build a closer relationship.

While we cannot change our genetics, we can improve our health by exercising and eating healthy. These healthy behaviors can decrease our risk of having a heart attack or developing diabetes. However, starting an exercise program can be challenging or intimidating. For example, many women may feel uncomfortable in a co-ed commercial gym or wearing “work out” clothes.

SATH participants really value that SAATH allows them to exercise in a modest way. They say if men were included, or if men could walk by and see them, they would feel less free to move about in the class. The class instructor has also worked hard to help build the confidence of women and girls in the class. She makes South Asian women feel comfortable during the classes. To create a fun class, she learns the likes and values of the South Asian participants to help her choose the music and aerobic movements. One mother noted, “it’s good that SAATH spreads awareness about the fitness and how to follow healthy lifestyle. I was able to improve my hip problem with the exercises. I feel more active.”

SAATH participants also enjoy taking part in peer discussion groups. During these sessions, women can openly talk about their challenges and strengths. These groups help participants form friendships with other women and have a fresh mind. One participant said, “the discussion sessions and exercise sessions were both very helpful in learning more about my own health and how can I improve my lifestyle. The Fitbit encouraged me more to be more active physically as I could reflect upon how I’ve been doing.”The daughters often say that their favorite part of SAATH is getting to spend more time with their mom.

Attending these classes together makes their relationship with their mom stronger. They also liked how they could become friends with other South Asian girls in the community. One daughter said she wished her parents focused more on their health. She tried to encourage her parents to eat healthier and exercise, but she did not know how. She, and many others, wished there were resources to teach South Asians that they are at risk of having a heart attack and how to avoid it.

Dr. Namratha Kandula, MD, MPH, Principal Investigator of the Northwestern study, explains, “Our goal is to develop effective and sustainable programs for combating heart disease in South Asian Americans.”