Case Study: Apna Healthy Lifestyle – Empowering South Asian Communities in Bradford

Overview

The Apna Healthy Lifestyle programme is a culturally tailored 12-week weight management and wellbeing initiative designed for the South Asian community in Bradford. Recognising the higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity in this population, we were asked to create a service that blends evidence-based nutrition and movement education with deep cultural understanding.

Launched in February 2025, the programme delivers separate men’s and women’s groups, in multiple languages (Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, and English), and integrates traditional foods, family dynamics, and community values into every session.

Our Impact

• 72% completion rate for at least 4 sessions
• 43% completion rate for at least 10 sessions
• 75% reported increased physical activity levels
• 78% reported improved wellbeing and quality of life
• 90% of participants came from high-risk groups (including the most deprived 10% of Bradford areas)

What Makes Apna Healthy Lifestyle Different

We designed the programme to be more than just “diet and exercise.” It’s about community empowerment, cultural connection, and lasting lifestyle change.

1. Culturally tailored content – Sessions cover everything from portion sizes in traditional South Asian meals to making healthier choices during Eid, Diwali, and weddings.
2. Movement for everyone – We incorporated an exercise activity at the end of every session.
3. Community-led delivery – Sessions are led by ambassadors from the community, speaking the same language and understanding participants’ cultural context.
4. Peer support networks – WhatsApp groups keep participants motivated and connected between sessions.
5. Catch-up flexibility – Each of the 12 sessions is stand-alone, meaning participants can join at any time and still benefit.

Programme Structure

Over 12 weeks, participants attend sessions which covered the following topics:

• Education on nutrition, movement, and wellbeing (tailored to South Asian culture)
• Group activities and goal setting
• Practical resources like meal planners and recipe guides
• Body measurements and progress tracking at each session
• Simple, do-it-at-home exercises at the end of each session

Testimonials

“Just to say that it  was a very helpful for my health and I found new types of activities.”
— Participant, Women’s Group

“It was very empowering and I felt like I was in a supportive community.”
— Participant, Women's Group

“When I was invited to join the Apna group, I was slightly overweight, recently retired, and looking for ways to live a healthier lifestyle. I had already started tweaking my diet and walking regularly, but I thought, “Why not join? It costs nothing, and it can only help!” Over the 12 weeks, Sampada, our amazing tutor, has taught me so much - how to make further changes to my diet, healthier ways to snack in the evening, and how to better understand my body and the importance of daily exercise. Looking back, I’m extremely glad I took the time to do this! And did I mention I lost half a stone?”
— Participant, Men's Group

Looking Ahead

With strong early results, Apna Healthy Lifestyle aims to expand into more Bradford neighbourhoods and offer evening and weekend sessions to reach even more participants.