A Feasibility Trial of a Bhangra Folk Dance Intervention to Improve Metabolic Health in Older Indian Women in the UK

NCT07768293 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: DfH-Bhangra10/19/AR/UOW
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 99
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

You are invited to take part in a research project. Before you decide if you would like to take part, please read this information sheet carefully. You can also ask the lead researcher if you have any questions (please see contact details at the end of this sheet). Title of Project: Investigating the feasibility of a twelve week Bhangra dance intervention on metabolic health, physical function and mental well-being among 40-70 years old adults identifying as coming from the Indian diaspora: What is the purpose of the research? To understand whether a twelve-week Bhangra dance course has a positive influence on your metabolic health, physical function and mental well-being. To understand your experiences with the dance classes? What will participation in the project involve? This 12-week course of Bhangra dance, run by qualified instructors, consists of two classes a week and is free for you. Classes will run on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm for 45 minutes in dance room on the second floor of the Performance Hub, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall Campus. First aiders are on site if there are any mishaps or you get into trouble. Ideally we would love it if you did every class but we understand that this is probably not achievable. Also we don't expect you to stop doing other exercise, these classes can be an added extra. As this is a research project we would like to collect some health information from you before and after the course. This will require you to come in to the University (Walsall Campus) to complete some tests and questionnaires, we will contact you to arrange a suitable day and time. There is also an opportunity to be a part of a discuss group so you can feedback about how you find the classes and you they are affecting you. Questionnaires: These measure your quality of life including your mental wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale), your physical wellbeing (EQ-5D) and mental acuity (MMSE). You will also be asked every now and again to complete a short questionnaire on how you are feeling before and after a class (BRUMS). Physical Health: Your blood pressure and body composition at the start and end of the course will be measured. The blood pressure uses an automatic machine that will be placed over your left upper arm. It will inflate and then slowly deflate. The body composition machine will require you to stand barefoot on some scales and hold onto a sensor with each hand. Two small blood samples (5ml) will be taken from your preferred arm by a trained phlebotomist. These will be used to measure a number of health markers including triglycerides, glucose and cholesterol. Physical function: Your balance and muscle strength will be measured. The first uses the Y-balance test. You will be asked to stand at the centre of the Y on one leg and then reach with the opposite leg in the specified direction as far as possible, lightly touching the furthest point without losing balance. The strength test uses an isometric pull: you will stand on a platform with a chain attached to a bar. Holding onto the bar and keeping your arms straight participants will pull with your arms and push down with your legs as hard as possible for 3-5 seconds Why have I been invited to take part? You have been invited to take part in this study because you are between 40-70 years old and identify as coming from the Indian diaspora. Do I have to take part? The decision to take part in the study is completely up to you and you can withdraw at any time without any consequences. What will happen to the data I provide? Your data will be anonymised by providing you with a unique identifying code (UIC) and we will monitor how your data changes before and after the dance classes. Your personal data will be available to you at the end of the study What are the benefits and risks of taking part? There are minimum physical risks involved in partaking in a dance class but the use of qualified instructors will minimise this. The blood test may cause localised bruising around the area the sample is taken. How will confidentiality be assured? Measures to ensure confidentiality include anonymization of data, your name and personal details will be substituted with a unique identity code. Only the Principal Investigator will have access to both. During the research, data will be stored in an encrypted file on the only device which belongs to the leading researcher. Afterwards, information linked to personal identity will be deleted and only the data related to the research will be preserved anonymously. What will happen to the results of the research? If you volunteer for the project your results will also be used for to help inform future health interventions and the anonymous group data will also be used for conference presentation and journal publication(s).

Conditions

Metabolic Disease

Keywords

Dancing; South Asian People; Metabolic Diseases; Cultural Competency; Randomized Controlled Trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Intervention Feasibility

  Feasibility of intervention as monitored by participant adherence (number of sessions attended as a percentage 0-100%)

  From enrolment to end of intervention at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Metabolic health (cholesterol)

  From enrolment to end of intervention at 12-weeks

• Metabolic Health (HDL)

  From enrolment to end of intervention at 12-weeks

• Metabolic Health (Glucose)

  From enrolment to end of intervention at 12-weeks

• Metabolic Health (TC/HDL ratio)

  From enrolment to end of intervention at 12-weeks

• Metabolic Health (BMI)

  From enrolment to end of intervention at 12-weeks

Study Arms (3)

Bhangra for Health 1

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will carry one 45-minute Bhangra class per week. All intervention workouts have warm-up, cooldown and stretch segments build in around the 'main component' of the class in 45 mins. The main component of the class is the exercise performed to the Bhangra tracks using specific moves to deliver the cardio and strength output(s). Therefore, the Bhangra music, moves and structure combined deliver the exercise outputs. Where a 'strength' segment is delivered towards the end of the class, this may consist of squats, lunges, boxing and/or abs to focus on specific areas of the body for additional health benefits. Interventions start off 'slow' - i.e. with easy-to-perform moves, broken down to their most basic form and progressed up through intensification of levels (1=basic, 2= mid and 3-higher level). Not only are the moves intensified in each class to provide intensity options, more tracks and Bhangra moves are added to increase complexity and challenge

Other: Bhangra for Health 1

Bhangra for Health 2

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will carry two 45-minute Bhangra class per week. All intervention workouts have warm-up, cooldown and stretch segments build in around the 'main component' of the class in 45 mins. The main component of the class is the exercise performed to the Bhangra tracks using specific moves to deliver the cardio and strength output(s). Therefore, the Bhangra music, moves and structure combined deliver the exercise outputs. Where a 'strength' segment is delivered towards the end of the class, this may consist of squats, lunges, boxing and/or abs to focus on specific areas of the body for additional health benefits. Interventions start off 'slow' - i.e. with easy-to-perform moves, broken down to their most basic form and progressed up through intensification of levels (1=basic, 2= mid and 3-higher level). Not only are the moves intensified in each class to provide intensity options, more tracks and Bhangra moves are added to increase complexity and challenge

Other: Bhangra Dance class

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Control group. Asked to carry on their daily living activities as normal

Interventions

Bhangra for Health 1 OTHER

Participants will carry out one 45-minute dance class a week for 12-weeks. All intervention workouts have warm-up, cooldown and stretch segments build in around the 'main component' of the class in 45 mins. The main component of the class is the exercise performed to the Bhangra tracks using specific moves to deliver the cardio and strength output(s). Therefore, the Bhangra music, moves and structure combined deliver the exercise outputs. Where a 'strength' segment is delivered towards the end of the class, this may consist of squats, lunges, boxing and/or abs to focus on specific areas of the body for additional health benefits. Interventions start off 'slow' - i.e. with easy-to-perform moves, broken down to their most basic form and progressed up through intensification of levels (1=basic, 2= mid and 3-higher level). Not only are the moves intensified in each class to provide intensity options, more tracks and Bhangra moves are added to increase complexity and challenge

Bhangra for Health 1

Bhangra Dance class OTHER

Participants will carry out two 45-minute dance classes a week for 12 weeks. All intervention workouts have warm-up, cooldown and stretch segments build in around the 'main component' of the class in 45 mins. The main component of the class is the exercise performed to the Bhangra tracks using specific moves to deliver the cardio and strength output(s). Therefore, the Bhangra music, moves and structure combined deliver the exercise outputs. Where a 'strength' segment is delivered towards the end of the class, this may consist of squats, lunges, boxing and/or abs to focus on specific areas of the body for additional health benefits. Interventions start off 'slow' - i.e. with easy-to-perform moves, broken down to their most basic form and progressed up through intensification of levels (1=basic, 2= mid and 3-higher level). Not only are the moves intensified in each class to provide intensity options, more tracks and Bhangra moves are added to increase complexity and challenge

Bhangra for Health 2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• a negative PAR-Q response, self-identification as South Asian, and ability to participate without high fall risk

You may not qualify if:

• NHS patients currently undergoing treatment, unstable medical conditions or contraindications to exercise

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Wolverhampton: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Wolverhampton

Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 3BD, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Metabolic Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Study Officials

• Matthew Wyon, PhD

  University of Wolverhampton

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor in Exercise Physiology

Model Details: Mixed methods random controlled trial feasibility study: 2 intervention arms and control group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 23, 2026
• First Posted: August 17, 2026
• Study Start: September 5, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 9, 2026
• Study Completion: April 20, 2026
• Last Updated: August 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: The IPD and supporting information are currently available and will be so for 25-years
• Access Criteria: Anyone can access the IPD and supporting information via DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.8425152

Locations

GB (1)