Dr. Itse Olaoye
Health Sciences University, London
Abstract Title: Developing A Theory and Evidence-Based Intervention for Black African Women Using The COM-B Model and Behaviour Change Wheel: BALANCED Programme
Biography: Dr Itse Olaoye is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), with great teaching experience in higher education. Prior to working in academia, she contributed to health initiatives across multiple levels, including national, state, local, and health facility levels, while working with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and UNICEF. Her expertise spans public health, disease epidemiology, healthcare systems, and health policy. She has led and managed programs aimed at strengthening healthcare systems and improving public health outcomes. Her experience also includes data management across these health initiatives, ensuring the effective collection, analysis, and use of health data at all levels of the healthcare system.
Research Interest: Obesity is a major global health issue, increasing morbidity and mortality through its association with non-communicable diseases. Black African women experience disproportionately high obesity rates, reaching 37% in the UK. They face unique cultural, social, and systemic barriers to achieving sustainable lifestyle changes. To address these, the Black African Lifestyle and Nutrition Change for Empowerment and Development (BALANCED) intervention was developed. Methods: A stepwise approach guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behaviour) was used to develop the intervention. Formative research, including a systematic review, dietary pattern analysis and qualitative interviews, identified key behavioural determinants and barriers to healthy eating among black African women with overweight and obesity in the UK. These insights informed the selection of intervention functions and behaviour change techniques (BCTs), which were co-designed with key stakeholders to support their acceptability and feasibility. Results: Formative research indicated that Black African women experience significant barriers to healthy behaviours, including limited access to culturally appropriate dietary guidance, time constraints, and systemic challenges in healthcare. The proposed intervention aimed to address these barriers through educational and training modules, culturally tailored counselling, and peer support systems, focusing on dietary and physical activity behaviours. Seven BCW intervention functions were applied, incorporating a variety of BCTs. Conclusion: The BALANCED intervention represents an innovative, culturally tailored approach to promoting sustainable behaviour change among Black African women with overweight and obesity. Grounded in theory and informed by empirical evidence, it has potential to address multidimensional barriers and foster participant engagement. Future research will focus on piloting and evaluating its effectiveness and scalability to inform broader public health strategies aimed at reducing health disparities in this demographic.