Impact of Teaching Medical Students about Obesity in South Asians

<ns3:p>Background Obesity is a multifaceted condition influenced by genetic, lifestyle, and cultural factors. The prevalence of obesity has risen globally, with distinct challenges faced by South Asian populations in the UK, due to genetic predispositions and dietary shifts. This study evaluated the impact of an educational intervention designed for medical students to increase understanding of obesity in the South Asian community. Methods Participants were recruited via the medical school online platform and signed written consent forms. The study did not require ethics approval. Participants completed a Likert confidence scale questionnaire before the small group teaching intervention, and then after it, to assess the impact of the session. Written free text comments after the session illustrated participant thoughts on the intervention and how well they felt the medical school taught on ethnic minority health. Results The intervention significantly improved participant confidence in understanding and awareness of obesity in the South Asian community. Free text comments highlighted positive engagement and suggested areas for improvement. All participants believed their medical school lacked sufficient teaching on obesity in ethnic minorities and expressed an ardent desire for more teaching in this area. Conclusions This study underscores the need for tailored undergraduate medical teaching on obesity in diverse ethnic groups, particularly South Asians. It highlights the inadequacies of a one-size-fits-all approach in addressing obesity within ethnic minority communities. Future work should explore the readiness of medical students across the UK to study obesity and the management of it in ethnic minorities.</ns3:p>