The effectiveness of healthy lifestyle training in migrant domestic helpers in Hong Kong: a quasi-experimental study

BackgroundMigrant domestic helpers are vulnerable to obesity and mental disorders, yet few interventions target this population. To address the research gap, we designed healthy lifestyle intervention tailored to this population and evaluated its effectiveness on healthy behaviors and mental well-being among Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong. MethodsThe intervention included dietary education and yoga practice, delivered onsite or online. Questionnaire surveys were conducted at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and four weeks post-intervention. Healthy Eating Vital Sign (HEVS) assessed dietary behvior, and PHQ-4 assessed mental health. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the changes in dietary behaviors and mental health. ResultsOf 318 participants (271 onsite), over 95% reported willingness to improve diet and lifestyle, and recommend the program to employer families. Four weeks post-intervention, participants showed statistically significant improvements in dietary behavior (HEVS score: - 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.92 to -0.18) and mental health (PHQ-4 score: -0.30; 95% CI: -0.57 to -0.02), with greater benefits among those with poorer baseline diet (HEVS: -1.90; 95% CI: -2.50 to -1.29) or higher mental stress (PHQ-4: -0.71; 95% CI: -1.16 to -0.27). Improvements included vegetable and fruit intake, breakfast frequency, and reduced depressive symptoms. ConclusionsThis healthy lifestyle intervention was well-accepted and brought improvements in dietary behavior and mental health among migrant domestic helpers, particularly those at higher risk. These findings contribute to an under-researched area and highlight the potential of integrating such low-cost, accessible interventions into community health initiatives to reduce health disparities in this vulnerable population.